Morphy's Jan 23 Old West Auction in Las Vegas Features Cowboy, Western and Native Americana, more

Collectors of Western and Native-American art and antiques will soon beat a path to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the premier event of the year, as Morphy’s presents its Friday, January 23 Old West & Native American Art Auction.

The highly-anticipated live auction, with all forms of remote bidding available, is at the heart of a bustling two-day get-together whose agenda also includes the Las Vegas Old West & Native American Art Show and Las Vegas Antique Arms Show, on January 23 and 24. All three events will be held under one roof at the Westgate Casino & Resort in Las Vegas, with a broad selection of top-notch goods certain to appeal to every level of collector.

The auction will start at 4pm local time (7pm ET) and is loaded with Western art, antiques, jewelry, home décor, cowboy paraphernalia, important and historical Western and Native-American art and antiques; apparel, saddles, spurs, bridles and other equine tack; Wild West Show items, and other early memorabilia. Throughout the auction’s 569 lots, the emphasis is on quality and authenticity.

The prestigious auction lineup will be led by several items destined to compete for top lot honors, including a stunning heavy gold chain made from solid gold nuggets. All of the gold has tested for at least 20K, with most testing just under 24K. Measuring 30 inches in length, the hefty chain weighs 474 grams and displays solid workmanship. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $50,000-$80,000.

A US Cavalry model Colt Single Action Army revolver with officer’s field desk ensemble, serial #4812 and Ainsworth-inspected, is of the type issued to Custer's 7th Cavalry prior to the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn. The firearm is part of an outstanding militaria grouping housed in an attractive replica quarter sawn oak campaign desk with the inside of the lid mounted with a heart-shape mirror. Inside are numerous period accessories like those Custer’s officers would have used. They include an M1872 dress cap insignia and cavalry kepi insignia, various packets of ammunition, a Civil War-era Wm Jackson Sheaf Island Works Bowie knife, sharpened; a pair of period French field glasses, a silver-plated flask with classical motifs, a fine silver hunter cased pocket watch by Henry Beguelin, a leather billfold with Series 1875 bills, period coins, a period album of female tintypes, and pipes. The grouping carries a $30,000-$50,000 estimate.

A black floral carved “Dick Dickinson Jr” model Edward H Bolin saddle ridden by screen actor Ray “Crash” Corrigan in the Western films The Three Musketeers, The Range Busters and others, as well as in eight Rose Bowl Parades, is expected to change hands for $30,000-$40,000. The saddle is built on a Miles City tree with 13-inch swells, a 14-inch-seat and a 3½-inch cantle. It is in fine overall condition and is engraved with the name “Ray Corrigan.”

The saddle includes a black and white wool Corona pad, cinch, and the original Bohlin custom-fitted shipping trunk. Also included are letters, photos, lobby cards and Corriganville brochures, plus the original bill of sale, a detailed circa-1972 letter from Ray Corrigan writing about the saddle, and a signed and inscribed image of Corrigan riding the saddle.

Also from Edward H Bolin, a fancy sterling mounted parade bridle and bit are profusely decorated with Native-American conchos inspired by Bohlin’s lifelong friend, Chief Red Wolf. The brow and nosebands have engraved floral panels and Bohlin's distinctive hallmark raised floral spots. The headstall is affixed to an overlaid classic “Chief” Rojas bit with a low port mouthpiece with copper keys, with silver by Bohlin. The pre-sale estimate is $3,000-$5,000.

An exceedingly rare and historically important custom prison-made pair of spurs for the creator of the immensely popular Red Ryder comic strip, Fred Harman (1902-1982), is estimated at $10,000-$15,000. The spurs are constructed in the classic Canon City Prison style and are large and impressive in size. They’re personalized with silver panels along the bands with "RED RYDER" hand-engraved in large letters, plus an "R" on each heel button.

A meticulously detailed and beautifully executed contemporary Navajo (Diné) rug, woven in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona and impressive at 84 inches by 132 inches, should breeze to $8,000-$15,000. The rug features a large central medallion flanked by reflective medallions, all encased by a border comprised of water bugs (or "X" design). It’s a dazzling eye-grabber, with bright colors that include turquoise, blue, violet, red, teal, green, and light and dark grey.

A signed Astley David Montague Cooper (American, 1856-1924) oil-on-canvas depicts three Native American men by a fire, engaged in a discussion and smoking a pipe as a Native woman and child look on and a dog sleeps peacefully in the foreground. Cooper was especially well known for his landscapes, and the work entered in the auction is an especially fine example of his prowess. The painting measures 30¼ inches by 40¼ inches (sight, minus the 47 ½ inch by 37 ½ inch frame) and is expected to sell for $8,000-$12,000.

There are two ambitious dioramas in the auction by Andy Anderson (1893-1963). One, titled Judge & Jury, contains 15 figures showcasing the important proceedings in a courtroom. It’s illustrated in The World of Andy Anderson by High Noon Western Americana, pages 14-17. A signed copy of the book is included with the lot, which should command $6,000-$9,000.

A circa-1902 framed poster for “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress and Rough Riders of the World,” featuring a mounted warrior with rifle and vignettes of a buffalo, tipi, snowshoes and tomahawk, is cut to resemble a Native-American tanned hide. This is one of the only examples of this poster extant. The lot comes with an original postcard from the event in good condition. Measuring 31¼ inches by 45¼ inches, this beautiful poster has an estimate of $6,000-$8,000.

A last quarter 19th-century Northern Plains headstall, fully beaded in intricate checkerboard and zigzag designs, is pictured in the book Precious Dreams (page 27) written by the piece’s previous owners Dr Delwin and Karen Bokelman. The colorful headstall also includes crisscrossed beaded face strips, a throatlatch and three beaded rosettes. Cones and red feathers follow across the brow band, and a custom stand is included. The pre-sale estimate is $4,000-$8,000.

Morphy’s Friday, January 23 Old West & Native American Art Auction will be held live in the Ballroom at the Westgate Casino & Resort, 3000 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. Start time: 4pm Pacific time / 7pm Eastern time. All forms of remote bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone, and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. Onsite auction preview: Jan. 22 from 5-7pm PST and Jan. 23 from 9-4 PST.

The Las Vegas Antique Arms Show will bring together hundreds of leading exhibitors from across the country, while the Las Vegas Old West & Native American Art Show offers the finest authentic Western art, artifacts and collectibles for public sale. The extraordinary mix of vintage and contemporary Western and Native American material will be beautifully displayed across hundreds of exhibit tables, with items that include pottery, baskets, bits, textiles, spurs, jewelry, Western and Native American art, kachinas, saddles, antique firearms, rare artifacts and more.

For questions about any item in the auction or to reserve a phone line, call toll-free 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. View the full catalog online and sign up to bid at https://www.morphyauctions.com. Learn more about the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show at https://www.antiquearmsshow.com. Visit Morphy’s Old West Events online at https://www.oldwestevents.com.

About Morphy Auctions:
Morphy Auctions in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has become one of the great success stories of the antiques auctions trade. Founded by Dan Morphy in 1997. Morphy’s has realized tremendous growth and set numerous world antique auction records in many categories, while attracting a global following of buyers that grows exponentially with each successive sale.

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