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CIVIL WAR OFFICERS
BRASS BOUND McCLELLAN SADDLE – A VERY NICE QUALITY
SADDLE:
This well preserved
example of a Civil War Officer’s Brass Bound McClellan
Saddle is indeed a scarce offering. Seldom appearing on
the open market, they normally move quietly from one
collection to another without seeing the light of day.
In excellent condition, this classic example of a Civil
War officer’s private purchase saddle built on the
familiar McClellan pattern, incorporates enough unique
features to overwhelmingly argue that this saddle was
produced under a special order for a senior, and very
likely affluent, officer.
This saddle bears some
resemblance to the saddle pictured and described on page
48 of The American Military Saddle, 1776-1945, as
well as sharing some similarities with the Civil War
officers saddles pictured on pages 50 and 53 of the same
volume, particularly the use of double skirts and the
positioning of the quarterstraps between the two layers
of skirts.
The pommel and cantle
arcs are protected with decorative brass molding which
also served to protect the critical seams at these
points. The outer faces of the pommel and cantle, and
the upper portions of the seat on the pommel and cantle
are all covered in fine grained black leather. The seat
is fitted with a brass pommel shield and the three brass
oval escutcheon plates on the coat strap slots in the
cantle. The saddle differs from a standard McClellan
form by having wider shelves in front of, and behind,
the pommel and cantle arcs respectively. These wider
shelves would have provided more support for a set of
pommel holsters on the pommel shelf and a valise on the
cantle shelf than the narrower arcs on a regulation
pattern saddle.
The saddle is fitted
with double skirts. The lobe-shaped outer skirts are
considerably larger than seen on many Civil War
officers’ saddles and may suggest this saddle was
produced earlier in the War. The smaller profile inner
skirts are integral to the leather covering the
underside of the tree. All four skirts are full form and
retain an overall bright shiny finish, showing minimal
wear and no damage. The inner skirt on the off side has
a small reinforcement high up under the outer skirt –
not visible unless you went looking for it with some
effort. It is very well executed to improve the
integrity of the saddle and certainly nothing that
detracts from the appearance of the saddle, but
mentioned here in the interest of a full description.
When originally rescued,
this saddle had sat in poor storage for many years and
unfortunately, the original quilted seat had suffered
damage at the hands of time, exposure, and I suspect
more than one raccoon or barn rat. Although the quilted
seat was still attached, the leather surface was gone,
the stitching had long since given out, and the padding
was held together only by the presence of the original
hand forged copper nails used by the original maker,
holding what was left of the padded seat in place. As
there was no possibility of restoring the seat, a
pattern was made from the original and the replacement
seat that is now present was fashioned. It is a
faithful reproduction which adheres to the size and
profile of the original, aged to match the appearance of
the saddle in tone and texture, was attached with the
original copper nails in the original holes, and quite
honestly, without being told most people viewing the
saddle would never realize the quilted seat had been
replaced. That the original quilted seat was so
severely damaged through the years is not unusual, as
the decorative stitching perforations which formed the
quilting weakened the leather, and in time they served
to accelerate the deterioration and subsequent loss of
these items.
There are four iron
rings anchored with iron poultry staples on the front
extension of the sidebars – two on each side - and
likewise, two rings attached in the same manner on each
side of the cantle shelf behind the seat. There was no
provision for a saddle bag stud, and it is likely this
officer employed a valise rather than saddle bags.
The quarterstraps
depending from their anchor points on the tree are
situated between the two skirts and join at an unspaded
“D” ring on both sides.
The saddle is complete
with matching brass stirrups, similar in style to the
Model 1833 Stirrups, but of a lighter weight and finer
profile. Like the M1883 Stirrup, the treads on these
stirrups have been roughened, raising “teeth” by gouging
the surface with a tool to improve the purchase of the
rider’s foot in the stirrup. The stirrups hang from
full length original stirrup straps.
Included with
this saddle are two coat straps which were made many
years ago with old brass faced horseshoe shaped buckles
and new leather. The straps have a nice aged
appearance, blending well with the saddle, and are a
nice complement to attach a valise should you decide to
do so. The benefit of the new leather is that it
support more weight and handling than old leather, and
you will not run the risk of breaking an original
strap.
The style and embellishments exhibited in this saddle
leave little doubt that it was manufactured under a
special order placed by an officer of some financial
means, and the evidence of wear suggests it was a saddle
used in the field, most likely during the War. While
the minor wear and aging present are consistent with,
and to be expected in, saddles from the Civil War
period, this Officer’s Saddle is in overall excellent
condition, and will make for a very dramatic centerpiece
for your collection. (0109)
$3750
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