Pat Gill silver saddle and tack headline New Frontier’s Old West sale August 24

Pat Gill silver saddle and tack, estimated at $10,000-$14,000 at New Frontier.

CHEYENNE, WY — More than 375 high-quality lots of Western memorabilia, firearms, and American Indian material from leading American collections will appear in New Frontier‘s Old West Auction scheduled for Saturday, August 24. The catalog is now open for bidding at LiveAuctioneers.

“This year’s auction offers an outstanding selection of Western relics and memorabilia, silver saddles and tack, Native American artifacts, prison-made horsehair bridles, antique firearms, and Railway Express items,” said Scott Tarbell, owner of New Frontier. “There are some truly exceptional pieces from three estates and lifetime collections, including that of Paul Hamer.”

Leading the lineup is a Pat Gill fully silver-mounted saddle with a matching bridle and martingale. Profusely carved with a floral motif, the saddle is laden with engraved silver. It has silver-lined perimeters, a bound and rope-edged cantle, and gold horsehead swells, horn cap, and stirrups; and also sports detailed corner plates accented by gold stars. In near-mint condition, the lot is estimated at $10,000-$14,000.

Horsehair bridles crafted by prison inmates of a century ago are among the most sought after of all antique equine tack. The auction includes one from the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge Valley. Displaying a seldom-seen palette of 11 colors, with the highlight color of pink against a white background, it is adorned with tassels, hitched glass rosettes, and split-reins that include American Flags, and it is finished with a three-dimensional bit with cheekpieces designed as a woman’s profile. In mint condition, it is estimated at $5,500-$7,500.

First among the firearms choices is a Winchester 1876 Royal Canadian Mounted Police carbine. The 45-75 caliber longarm, one of the few of its type in the Clancher list of known RCMP-issued guns, it has the serial number 33232 and the specified Spanish meter sight. It is estimated at $7,000-$11,000.

The sale’s final highlight is a 47-star ‘New Mexico’ flag that flew for a few months outside of a state building in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is significant because 1913 was the year New Mexico attained statehood, and just three months after the flag’s introduction, Arizona became the 48th state, necessitating a change to 48 stars. Measuring 75 inches by 60 inches, the flag has a broad estimate of $2,000-$20,000.

Pat Gill silver saddle and tack, estimated at $10,000-$14,000 at New Frontier.

Pat Gill silver saddle and tack, estimated at $10,000-$14,000 at New Frontier.

Deer Lodge Horsehair Bridle, estimated at $5,500-$7,500 at New Frontier.

Deer Lodge Horsehair Bridle, estimated at $5,500-$7,500 at New Frontier.

RCMP 1876 Winchester Police Carbine, estimated at $7,000-$11,000 at New Frontier.

RCMP 1876 Winchester Police Carbine, estimated at $7,000-$11,000 at New Frontier.

United States 47-star 'New Mexico' flag, estimated at $2,000-$20,000 at New Frontier.

United States 47-star 'New Mexico' flag, estimated at $2,000-$20,000 at New Frontier.

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte has worked in editorial, design and the toy and auction industries for more than 30 years. He co-founded Auction Central News in 2007.

‘Mile High’ Moser art glass collection soared at Soulis

Moser amberina glass jug with dragon and lizard decorations, which sold for $6,150 with buyer’s premium at Soulis.

LONE JACK, MO – On July 13, Soulis Auctions dispersed The Mile High Collection, a Denver, Colorado-based collection of Moser art glass gathered during the last four decades. Described by the house as ‘one of the largest and most significant collections of Ludwig Moser art glass ever offered at auction,’ bidders paid heed and fought for these treasures. Full results for the sale are available at LiveAuctioneers.

Claiming top-lot status was a jaw-dropping undated Moser amberina glass jug lavishly decorated with gilt, raised enamels, and a handle in the form of a lizard. Estimated at $2,000-$3,000, it hammered for $5,000 and sold for $6,150 with buyer’s premium.

Dirk Soulis of Soulis Auctions said of the piece, “This was an iconic Moser form that came loaded from the factory. Instead of being blown from the standard amber glass, it had intense amberina shading, and there was a fantastic dragon-like creature that we found no record of on any of the other examples that had sold for prices on the low side of our estimate range.”

Another star lot was a late 19th-century Moser art glass cup that relied on a crackle glass technique and was festooned with three-dimensional enameled insects. Soulis credited this last detail with pushing the cup beyond its $500-$1,000 estimate to sell for $4,320 with buyer’s premium.

“It must have been all about the bugs,” he said. “The crackle glass and the lava applications weren’t uncommon Moser features, but those three-dimensional insects were very unusual. Not only were they good-sized and colorful, they weren’t finished in a glossy manner like the lizards and leaves on other Moser pieces. These had the feel of cold painted enamel details on a bronze sculpture.”

A third Moser piece that bested its estimate was an undated Moser blue glass jug with gilt and enamel decoration. “The blue ewer sold well because it was blue,” Soulis said, going on to explain, “That color is obviously a favorite among collectors, and nearly everything Moser in that color of glass has been a surprise to us.” Estimated at $500-$800, it sold for $1,845 with buyer’s premium.

Moser amberina glass jug with dragon and lizard decorations, which sold for $6,150 with buyer’s premium at Soulis.

Moser amberina glass jug with dragon and lizard decorations, which sold for $6,150 with buyer’s premium at Soulis.

Moser art glass cup decorated with three-dimensional insects, which sold for $4,320 with buyer’s premium at Soulis.

Moser art glass cup decorated with three-dimensional insects, which sold for $4,320 with buyer’s premium at Soulis.

Moser blue glass jug with beaded fish scale pattern and enameled floral decoration, which sold for $1,845 with buyer’s premium at Soulis.

Moser blue glass jug with beaded fish scale pattern and enameled floral decoration, which sold for $1,845 with buyer’s premium at Soulis.

Sheila Gibson Stoodley

Sheila Gibson Stoodley

Sheila Gibson Stoodley is the associate editor for Auction Central News. She has written and edited for Robb Report, Art & Antiques magazine, and Andrew Harper online. She also authored The Hot Bid, a blog devoted to intriguing and delightful lots coming up at auction.