Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1503b:
Description
This is a beautiful example of a late 19th to early 20th-century Ladies’ Western Side Saddle owned by Ethel Ann Hickok Laufer (1886-1985), the niece of the legendary Western figure, James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok (1837–1876). Ethel Ann was born June 30, 1886, in Troy Grove, Illinois, and died October 28, 1985, at age 99 in Mendota, Illinois. The saddle features the iconic double horn (or swell) typical of this style for security, though often slightly less pronounced than a true Western stock saddle. The seat is richly upholstered in a patterned needlepoint or tapestry fabric featuring an appealing floral design in deep reds, yellows, and greens. The rest of the saddle is constructed of a heavy canvas base covered in a lighter material, with a skirt on one side that has an applied, heavily tooled black leather panel featuring swirling floral or vine motifs. A faint stamp of “243” is visible on a leather tab underneath the skirt, which may relate to a serial or model number. The saddle is accompanied by a fascinating period photo of Ethel Hickok Laufer (niece of Wild Bill Hickok) with her friend Dora Budd. The stirrup is a closed, metal design, possibly a variation of a “mule ear” or “hooded” stirrup, attached by a heavy canvas or woven girth strap. The condition is consistent with age and use; the leather is dried, scuffed, and worn, particularly on the lower panels and skirts, and the tapestry shows fading and some minor fraying. The underside lining is visible and also shows wear. The original stirrup leather appears cracked. Seat dimensions are noted at 14.5″. H 24″, W 30″, D 36″. Note: Pickup/Transport required. Contacts available post auction.
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