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Al Furstnow Hollywood Saddle

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Al Furstnow Hollywood Saddle
The "William S. Hart" saddle

A full seat saddle with deep floral carving, large square skirts, solid silver cantle binding and impressive domed conchos. The deep seat is 13 1/2” and has a 5” cantle; attached is a silver presentation plate that almost covers the entire cantle back. Original black dyed leather has a nice shine but does show some age cracking to the finish. The stirrups are silver covered on the front and match the rest of the heart-bordered sterling decorations. Al Furstnow was in Hollywood for only a short time, and seldom do you see a saddle with this mark, especially a silver-mounted saddle. It also has a colorful history.

The saddle is said to have come out of William S. Hart's estate, to Bugsy Siegel's Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, where it was the centerpiece of an exhibit in the front of the hotel. In 1962, Rex Cauble was in Vegas participating in the Cutting Horse World Championship with Cutter Bill. Abe Schiller, President of the Flamingo, gifted the saddle to Rex after his win. Rex went on to loan the saddle to the Garrison Texas Ranger Museum, where it was prominently on display. Eventually the saddle returned to Rex's ranch, though he had always hoped it would once again be on public display, as a tribute to the talents of both Furstnow and Hart. Lot includes colorful sign from Garrison Museum display.

William S. Hart (1864-1946)

Born in Newburgh, New York, William Surrey Hart began his acting career on stage in his 20s, and in film when he was 49. He was an American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is remembered for having "imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity”.
Hart went on to become one of the first great stars of the motion picture western. Fascinated by the Old West, he acquired Billy the Kid's "six shooters" and was a friend of legendary lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. He entered films in 1914 where, after playing supporting roles in two short films, he achieved stardom as the lead in the feature "The Bargain." Hart was particularly interested in making realistic western films. His films are noted for their authentic costumes and props, as well as Hart's extraordinary acting ability, honed on Shakespearean theater stages in the United States and England. He made his last film, "Tumbleweeds" (1925), for United 550 and retired to a ranch in Newhall, CA.


Al Furstnow (1862-1925)
Born in 1862 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Al Furstnow settled in Miles City in 1894 and became the major saddler in the northwest. Furstnow opened Al Furstnow’s Saddle Shop on Main Street in 1884 and is credited with making the first flower hand-stamped saddles in Miles City
In December 1894, Charlie Coggshall bought half interest in Furstnow's shop. Two years later, Furstnow and Coggshall, as partners, bought out the stock of Moran and W. J. Zimmerman. They added workers and became the only major saddlery between Billings, Montana, and Dickinson, North Dakota. They split up in March 1899.
Al Furstnow went to California around 1922 where he built saddles for Hollywood stars. He died in California around 1925.