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Edward H. Bohlin Machris Show Saddle

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana / Tack - Saddles Start Price:40,000.00 USD Estimated At:50,000.00 - 65,000.00 USD
Edward H. Bohlin Machris Show Saddle
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Edward H. Bohlin Machris Show Saddle. Custom Bohlin show saddle. Deeply carved floral pattern, with gold Indian chiefs and longhorns. The Bohlin bucking horse logo adorns both fenders. Two-tone leather with dark borders. Bit has Bohlinmade Hollywood football mark; fancy black braided reins and romal with Bohlin Hollywood, CA shield-shape mark. 14 ½” seat, 3” cantle; Edward Bohlin gold seat plate made for Danny Lang, Jr. On back of cantle, in gold, initials DML, JR and engraved below in the silver, “DANNY M. LANG JR / E. H. BOHLIN CO. / HOUSTON, TEXAS. A truly spectacular saddle in every regard. Buffalo head on horn cap is dented, but otherwise in excellent to mint condition.

Machris Indian Head Bohlin Saddle Outfit.
One of the most popular parade saddles created by the Edward H. Bohlin Company was the Machris, decorated with silver leaf pattern conchos along with long tapaderos and black finish. This saddle is clearly of the Machris pattern, but instead of featuring gold steer heads and cowboys on bucking horses, it features round conchos with gold Indian heads on corner plates, pommel swells, horn, stirrups, bridle, and martingale. Instead of tapaderos, the stirrups are open with the sides covered with engraved silver and three gold-mounted Indian head conchos.

I personally viewed this handsome outfit being restored at the Bohlin shop in Burbank, California, in the late 1980s. All the original brown finished leather was replaced with new tooled leather for then head of the company, Danny Lang. Additional features included full lace braiding on all leather edges and the addition of the Bohlin logo of cowboy on bucking horse (designed originally by artist Fred Harman in the 1930s) tooled on the fenders. The outfit is a true product of the 1940s Edward H. Bohlin Company, with all original silver and gold mountings and skillful restoration in the late 1980s. It is ready to go on the back of your favorite horse, or for display in the den, office, or board room.

-- James H. Nottage, VP and Chief Curatorial Officer, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. April, 2015.