SANTA FE, NM.- Collectors figuratively saddled up and traveled the historic Santa Fe Trail to Morphy’s June 21 auction of elite Western art and antiques, a million-dollar-plus event that embodied the spirit of American adventure and reverence for Native culture in 472 diverse and exceptional lots. The evening sale was a well-attended special highlight of the Old West Show & Auction weekend held annually at the Santa Fe Community Center.
The high-end auction lineup included fine and decorative art, riding apparel and tack; firearms, silverwork, Native tribal art and relics; and Hollywood cowboy memorabilia, to name but a few of the categories. Top-lot honors went to an artist-signed oil-on-canvas painting by William Gilbert Gaul (NAD, 1855-1919) titled Indian by Campfire. Gaul was a well-credentialed artist known for his military scenes and Western subjects, including realistic depictions of interaction between Native and Caucasian people. Born in New Jersey, Gaul studied in New York City at the Art Student League and the prestigious National Academy of Design (NAD), where, in 1882, he was elected a member. Gaul made many trips to the American West between 1882 and 1891, living on Army posts and with Indian tribes whose cultures and traditions he captured in his artworks. One of his best-known works is a portrait of Sitting Bull, which he painted from life. Indian by Campfire came with provenance that included a March 14, 2001 sale at Sotheby’s New York. Against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-$50,000, the beautifully executed oil was bid to $39,360 at Morphy’s.
Two of the most talked-about lots had a direct connection to the classic TV series The Lone Ranger and were screen-used by its beloved star, Clayton Moore (1914-1999). Perhaps nothing was more essential to Moore’s iconic role than the black eye mask his character wore to conceal his identity. The cloth-and-plastic mask was molded to fit Moore's face and became part of one of the most recognizable costumes in American TV history. Inextricably tied to a classic series that first ran on ABC Television from 1949 to 1957, the mask came with provenance from the estate of the show’s producer, Jack Wrather. It sold within its estimate range for $27,060.
Additionally, the auction included a pair of Colt Single Action Army Revolvers screen-used by Clayton Moore during filming of The Lone Ranger series. Both Colts were .45 caliber and bore the serial number 58918, indicating 1880 as their year of manufacture. The lot included six of the Lone Ranger's silver-plated deactivated Remington UMC cartridges. Like the mask, the revolvers came with provenance from the estate of producer Jack Wrather. Entered with an estimate of $25,000-$35,000, the pair of revolvers retired at $29,520.
From the Civil War era, a desirable New Haven Arms Model 1860 “Henry” lever-action rifle was manufactured in 1863. It displayed all of the essentials collectors seek in an original Henry of its period, including matching serial numbers stamped inside the butt plate, on the lower inside tang, on the barrel breech and inside the stock channel. Also, an “H” stamp was visible inside the lower tang, and the barrel flat displayed an early-style small Henry patent legend stamp. A perennially-popular model with fans of historical firearms, the Henry settled above high estimate at $19,200.
A magnificent example of Native American artistry, a Northern Plains / Sioux pictorial beaded vest was a scene-stealer at the auction preview. Its front panels were decorated with stunning images of two mounted warriors with feathered coup sticks, while the back showed two mounted braves dressed in full regalia, including headdresses and coup sticks, with an upper portion adorned with two pole-mounted American Flags. Described by Morphy’s specialist cataloger as one of the nicest Native beaded vests ever to be offered by the Pennsylvania-based auction house, it rose to $19,200 against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000.
A visually compelling advertising piece, a rare lithographed pennant poster in an unusual trapezoidal shape promoted “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West / Pawnee Bill’s Far East” shows. Extremely colorful and profusely illustrated, its motif featured an image of Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody) in the foreground. Copyrighted in 1910 and printed by Russell-Morgan, the 80-inch by 24-inch pennant was bid to $16,800 against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000.
Another Old West advertising highlight was a Remington-UMC Arms and Ammunition canvas banner with graphics of Indians on horseback hunting buffalo. Scarce and desirable, the 28¼-inch by 57-inch poster commanded $14,400 against an estimate of $5,000-$8,000.
Masterfully executed, a Scott Rogers (b. 1960-) bronze tableau depicted in fine detail a Conestoga wagon crossing rocky terrain with people, livestock and a dog as its traveling companions. Artist-signed Scott Rogers and 2021 in the casting, along with a copyright symbol and incised petroglyphs, the 4ft-long work was numbered CA 3/30. Bidders chased it to $9,600.
More than five dozen pairs of antique spurs were offered, including unique German silver and brass-inlaid productions that had been crafted within the walls of the Colorado State Penitentiary. The mounted spurs had heel bands adorned with 1-1/3-inch engraved, inlaid circles with brass borders, each encasing a five-point star. Rare and atypical, they sold just below their high estimate for $11,079.
A small selection of coveted lawmen’s badges included examples from marshals, sheriffs and police from Arizona, Texas, California and Oklahoma. An extra-special entry was a Texas Ranger’s badge originally worn by WM “Matt” Cawthon, a sergeant with the Rangers’ Company ‘F’ at Fort Fisher in Waco, Texas. Attractively decorated with a Texas Star and “Texas Ranger” on the obverse, the badge was engraved on verso with Cawthon’s initials “WMC.” At some point, the badge had been gifted to Buster Brown of Houston, Texas. It conveyed to its new owner with an original signed letter to Brown on Texas Department of Public Safety letterhead. Against an estimate of $1,500-$2,500, it claimed a strong winning bid of $7,200.
To discuss consigning a collection or single item to a future Old West auction conducted by Morphy’s, please call Dan Morphy at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. All enquiries regarding consignments are kept strictly confidential, and there is never an obligation to consign. Online:
www.morphyauctions.com
