#saddle maker

Shot these as part of a bigger story on master saddle maker Doug Cox. The silversmith here makes all the silver for Doug’s beautiful one of a kind saddles. 

Elegant 1900s Mexican Saddle by Lozano

Intricately detailed light brown 1900s Mexican Saddle with long saddle bags artfully designed with a scalloped border and adorned with a combination of deep floral carving; lavish two-tone pitiado (yucca fiber) with a Greek Key border design framing an embroidered grape-vine pattern with grape clusters cleverly fabricated from fine silver threads. Silver mountings include a figural repousse flat horn, maker stamped “E ROMAN / MEXICO”, repousse adornments on the fork, swell and gullet, plus heavy gauge slotted silver conchos and lavish stirrups. Highly detailed silver repousse stirrups. The cowhide seat cover was added many years ago but is not original to the rawhide seat and should be removable. Excellent overall condition including original cinch.

Historic Hollywood Parade Saddle, Accessories and personal Artifacts belonging to Mexican General Rafael Avila Camacho (1904-1975)

Black floral carved silver mounted Southern California parade ensemble maker-marked Hollywood Saddlery Ltd., circa 1940, with black & white wool Corona. Includes matching Breast Collar plus Bridle and Reins with outstanding Mexican Bit. The saddle is artfully mounted with finely engraved silvered cantle, gullet and swell caps, and adorned with sterling silver diamonds bordering the fenders, skirts and tapaderos.

Dixie Thompson's Custom Loomis Saddle Outfit.

Spectacular, one-of-a-kind, handcrafted saddle by Loomis Saddlery, with custom silver by the Tiffany-trained artist, Edwin Field. Complete with bit, headstall, breast collar, reins, martingale, cinch, skirt and lariat, all circa 1888-90. Commissioned by Santa Barbara capitalist, rancher and one-time sea captain, Dixie W. Thompson, the silverwork alone took over two years to complete, and was fashioned with bullion from Mexican silver dollars. Dixie rode the saddle in numerous parades, and it was exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The saddle is discussed in detail in numerous newspaper articles of the time, including the May 4, 1896 “San Francisco Call”, which referred to the saddle as having “the reputation of being the most gorgeous thing of its kind in the world.”