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Impressive 1950s Bruce Lovins “Parade Chief” Model Silver Saddle Parade Ensemble

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana / Tack - Saddles Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
Impressive 1950s Bruce Lovins “Parade Chief” Model Silver Saddle Parade Ensemble
Contact Brian Lebel's Old West Events prior to bidding if you have a lot inquiry.

Catalogs can be purchased by visiting: oldwestevents.com/catalogs
Marketed in Bruce Lovin’s early 1950s catalog with a $3,000 price tag (over $30k in today’s dollar equivalent), this imposing “Parade Chief” outfit is the “complete parade package” heavily adorned with silver conchos and Indianheads, plus fully silvered swells, cantle, massive breast collar, extravagant serapes, tapaderos, and even a crouper (hip drops). A parader’s dream at a fraction of the price of the California makers. 14" seat, 2" cantle, 25" tapaderos.

Bruce Lovins operated his saddle shop from his personal residence at 18 Thatcher Avenue in Alexandria, Kentucky, from the 1930s through the 1950s. Though he did make a few traditional “using” saddles, Lovins was best known for his fancy German and sterling silver parade saddles inspired by West Coast saddle makers of that period like Hollywood’s Edward H. Bohlin, and San Francisco’s Keyston Bros & Olsen-Nolte. Lovins most popular models were The Starfire, The Parader, The Parade Chief, Starfire Supreme, Grand Champion, Parade King, Parade Triumph, Challenger Supreme, Challenger, Star Champion and Champion. He also made matching accessories for each model that included silver mounted gun rigs, boot heels and tips, belts, spur straps and a variety of fancy conchos. Although Lovins made a few sterling silver models, the majority of his custom production were mounted with German Silver designed to achieve a price point that competed effectively for the regional parader market with Indiana neighbor, Ted Flowers.