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Western antiques

Saddle up for Brian Lebel’s Santa Fe Old West Show & Auction, June 23-25

Western antiques
One-of-a-kind pair of Tony Lama ‘El Rey II’ handmade cowboy boots. Custom-ordered from Luskey’s 1966 catalog by a Route 66 service station owner, Ted Jenkins of Vernal, Utah, to display as a roadside tourist attraction. Premium-grade black calf with inlaid gold leaf and 54 carats of diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Estimate $20,000-$30,000. Morphy Auctions image

SANTA FE, N.M. – Buyers, sellers, collectors, and enthusiasts of Western and Native American memorabilia, or anyone who is just discovering this red-hot collecting category, should mark their calendars for June 23-25. Those are the dates for Brian Lebel’s 33rd annual Cody Old West Show & Auction, to be held in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center at 201 West Marcy Street in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The auction is produced in association with Morphy’s, and absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Weekend dealer show and live Saturday night auction feature Western fine art and antiquities, Native American artifacts, apparel, cowboy trappings, horse gear, antique firearms, jewelry

Both the weekend dealer show and the Saturday night auction will be packed with authentic Western fine art and antiques, collectibles, apparel, Native American artifacts, home decor, jewelry, historic firearms, cowboy trappings, horse gear, books, Hollywood memorabilia, boots, hats, furniture and more. The extensive array of show and auction merchandise encompasses antique, vintage and modern items, and spans all price points.

Western antiques
Mid-1800s Native American (Cheyenne) painted-hide shield with central image of bird figure flanked by images of human heads, animals and crosses. Sinew-wrapped horsehair drops across top quarter. This example is of a type that would have been used in battle for protection. Size: 18in diameter, 3in deep. Estimate $140,000-$160,000. Morphy Auctions image

“Because of the wide variety of material available at the show – from cowboy to Native American, from old to new, and from inexpensive to lavish – it’s often difficult to explain to people what, exactly, the event is like,” said Brian Lebel, who founded the show and auction 34 years ago in Cody, Wyoming. “But one thing is certain – after someone’s first visit, they come back every year. It’s a special event with a community like none other.”

The weekend dealer show is a “buy, sell and trade” event, with many vendors happy to offer impromptu appraisals or advice. “Our show vendors are among the best in the business, and are extremely generous with both their time and knowledge,” said Lebel. “Even if you don’t buy anything, you’re guaranteed to learn something.” Show hours are 9am to 4pm Mountain time on Saturday, June 24; and 9am to 3pm on Sunday, June 25. General admission is $10 per day, with free entry for those under 12 or over 75.

The show also offers early buying, which is available “for the serious collector” during Friday’s June 23 vendor set-up from 9am to 5 pm. Guests are able to shop while the dealers unpack, for a first look at the merchandise. The cost is $100 and includes access during all vendor hours all weekend.

The all-day show on Saturday will be followed by an exciting Saturday night auction produced in association with Morphy Auctions and held on-site at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The auction start time is 5pm. More than 300 lots will be offered.

Western antiques
Early and important Western Great Lakes Ojibwa carved, ball-headed club with elaborate and finely-executed floral and figural decoration on both the flat-sided handle and ball. Beautiful patina. Size: 22in long overall, 7in across the head. Provenance: a notable private collection. Estimate $140,000-$160,000. Morphy Auctions image

The auction’s major categories include cowboy antiques and collectibles (saddles, spurs, bits, etc.); Native American artifacts, antique and historic firearms; Hollywood cowboy memorabilia, Western fine art, Old West gambling and saloon items; antique and contemporary belt buckles and other silverwork; antique advertising and lithography; and Western decorative arts and furniture.

Lebel is enthusiastic about the quality and variety of the auction lots available this June. “Appropriately for Santa Fe, there’s a strong selection of Native American artifacts,” he said. The selection includes an excellent and early Ojibwa ball-headed war club, a Sioux gunstock club, an impressive Cheyenne shield, a notable pictorial beaded vest, an important vintage turquoise jewelry set, and many other fine Native artworks and artifacts.

On the cowboy side, Lebel is particularly excited about a pair of vintage boots: the only known pair of circa-1960s Tony Lama “El Rey II” bejeweled cowboy boots (see top of this page). Also crossing the auction block are a scarce and authentic full-size Yellowstone stagecoach, a number of special prison-made horsehair bridles, rare G.S. Garcia snake-pattern spurs, a collection of fine Mexican silver inlaid spurs, and several impressive Edward H. Bohlin silver parade saddles.

Western antiques
Will James (American, 1892-1942), Untitled graphite-on-board artwork depicting a cowboy roping a Longhorn steer. Size: 12½in x 19¼in (sight); 21½in x 28½in (framed). Artist signed, inscribed and dated ’34. Provenance: Abe Hays collection, Arizona West label attached. Estimate $35,000-$45,000. Morphy Auctions image

Fine Western art is another Santa Fe mainstay. This year’s auction will feature several important pieces by Will James, an A.D.M. Cooper saloon nude, a selection of Nicholas Firfires paintings from the artist’s estate, and other pieces by noted western artists such as Nicholas Eggenhofer, Fritz Scholder, Lon Megargee, Bill Churchill and others.

Old West Events is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions, as well as inquiries for vendor space at future shows. Call 480-779-WEST (9378), or email contactus@oldwestevents.com. To learn more about Brian Lebel’s Old West Events and the June 23-25 show and auction, visit www.oldwestevents.com.

For general auction inquiries, call Morphy Auctions at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com.

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