19TH
CENTURY LEATHER SADDLE POCKETS – HEAVILY DECORATED WITH
APPLIED STAMPED DESIGN - AN ATTRACTIVE SET IN VERY GOOD
CONDITION - APPROPRIATE FOR DISPLAY ON AN EARLY FRONTIER
WESTERN SADDLE:
This set of 19TH
Century Saddle Pockets present in excellent condition,
having defied the passage of time, the turbulent years
of the late 19TH Century frontier which
consumed so much of the western horse equipment through
hard use, and the neglect and poor storage in the years
that followed which eventually destroyed what little
remained.
This set of saddle
pockets has survived in very good condition.
Constructed of substantial bridle leather, the front
panels of the pockets, the flaps and the interconnecting
seat or yoke are all heavily stamped with a well
executed decorative pattern. The design of the stamping
suggests this set originated in the American Southwest
or along the Southern Border Region.
Measuring an overall
length of 30”, each bag measures 9” long and 6” wide,
with a 2” wide gusset around all three sides of each
bag. The body, flap, ends and straps are fashioned from
substantial weight leather that is still very supple,
and the leather surfaces are still bright with a shiny
finish, with no crazing or flaking. The bags are very
solid with no rot or deterioration, and all of the seams
are intact. There are short sections of restitching to
the top corners of the gussets where they attach to the
rear panels which appear to have been executed during
the period of use. These corners were subject to the
most wear due to the weight of the contents of the bags,
and such repairs are commonly encountered. The two
original closing straps which secure the flaps on both
of the bags are present, appear to be full length and
are intact with no severe weak points. The matching
billets with the iron buckles are present, intact, and
full length.
This set of Saddle
Pockets is a well made, nicely decorated example of the
saddle maker’s art available on the Western Frontier.
The type of above average horse furniture that a well
equipped mounted traveler would have carried behind his
saddle with the personal items he needed for a short
trip, this set will be a special addition to your
antique saddle. (1203) $850
|