Squint your eyes just a little and Brian Lebel’s biannual auctions with Morphy Auctions could pass as a saddle or tack shop with their huge selections of saddles, bits and spurs, chaps, bosals, quirts, hobbles and other horse-related objects. But then, on closer inspection, it’s obvious this is material that isn’t from any regular tack shop. The work, much of it historic and one-of-a-kind, is made by the rarest of artisans.
Edward H. Bohlin (1895-1980), Machris parade saddle Estimate: $100/150,000 SOLD: $233,700
For Lebel’s most recent sale, the Old West Show & Auction held January 24 in Las Vegas, this material helped catapult the auction to $1.9 million in sales. Of the top eight lots, six are horse gear: three Edward H. Bohlin parade saddles, two sets of spurs and a rare silver bridle. The top saddle, Bohlin’s Machris variety saddle, sold for $233,000, well over its $150,000 high estimate. Lebel, who has hosted these shows and sales for decades, has always maintained that these items are not just Western objects but also fine art. Bidders agreed with him by using their wallets.
White Bull’s historic ledger and storybook Estimate: $75/125,000 SOLD: $270,600
The top lot of the sale was the White Bull ledger, which sold for $270,000, more than double the high estimate of $125,000. White Bull, a nephew of Sitting Bull, documented battles and biographical information about his life in 162 pages. White Bull claimed that he killed George Armstrong Custer in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, although no proof exists for or against White Bull’s claim.
Other top lots include a sword cane from Buffalo Bill, several works by W.H.D. Koerner, a small drawing from Charles M. Russell and Harry Jackson’s bronze Pony Express II,which sold over estimates for $17,000.
Harry Jackson (1924-2011), Pony Express II, mixed media and bronze, 161/2 x 10 x 13 in. Estimate: $8/10,000 SOLD: $17,220
Lebel and Morphy will host their next show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on June 21 through 23. —
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