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LOT 3029
Incredibly Ornate Engraved, Silver Mounted, and Tooled Early 20th Century D.E. Walker Parade Saddle with Matching Olsen-Nolte Marked Tapaderos, Tack, and Saddle Stand - Manufactured by one of the most celebrated California saddle shops, D.E. Walker’s “Visalia Saddle Shop”, likely sometime in the first few decades of the 1900s. The “Visalia saddle” was originally developed by Mexican saddle makers in the Visalia area around 1860, and today, almost all stock saddles are direct descendants of the Visalia. Walker established the Visalia Saddle Shop in 1870 at 60 Main Street, where he brought together the before mentioned makers and successfully began marketing this new style of saddle. In 1887, they opened a
location in San Francisco which was operated by Walker until his death in 1894. Walker’s nephew carried on the business until his death in the 1930s. Upon his passing the business went into steady decline until a fire ended business in the 1960s. The stirrups on this saddle are marked for Olsen-Nolte of San Francisco. The Olsen-Nolte shop was founded in San Francisco in 1936 by saddle maker Al Nolte, who was joined in the venture the following year by John Olsen. The two remained in partnership until Nolte’s death in 1942, with the business carrying on under the same name to this day. The firm stopped manufacturing items of their own in 1985, but continues on as a large retailer of western and equestrian items. It is likely that this saddle along with all of the tack was manufactured by the Visalia Saddle Shop and sold through the Olsen-Nolte shop in San Francisco. The leather throughout shows extensive and masterfully executed floral tooling, with the D.E. Walker trademark on both sides near the front rigging dees.
The back side of the cantle is completely silver mounted and has the initials “WFS” in rose gold with stars on either side. There is a small silver plaque on the seat rise marked “No AB 18287” and “SAN FRANCISCO/CALIF”. The remainder of the saddle including the skirts, horn, and fenders are extensively mounted with silver, most of which shows attractive floral engraving. The seat measures approximately 13 1/2 inches. The included halter and other tack shows matching extensive engraved silver mountings, some having small gold inlays of rodeo scenes, horses, or flowers. The tapaderos have large silver mountings on the outsides with a large “S” on each, matching tooling to the saddle, and have the Olsen-Nolte trademark on the insides. Also included is an extra set of stirrups
which may be the originals provided with the saddle. Also included is a saddle blanket and an ornately carved hardwood saddle stand.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall, the leather showing very minimal wear for its age with most of the tooling remaining very crisp. The silver throughout remains mostly bright with crisp engraving. The stand is very fine with minimal wear. This is an incredible opportunity to own a set of tack that’s marked by two of the most well-known names in the California saddle business, D.E. Walker and Olsen-Nolte!
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
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