Tack, Saddle, Visalia Parade, Sterling Silver, Vintage ‘40s-'50s, 1416

This is an amazing circa 1930-1950 Visalia Silver Mounted J.C. Higgins Parade Saddle. The saddle shows an amazing silver-mounted saddle, covered in silver work, the saddle was produced under the J.C. Higgins name but manufactured by Visalia Stock Saddle company being silver mounted by them. These highly silver mounted J.C. Higgins and Visalia saddles are exceedingly rare and uncommon. Identified as being Visalia for Higgins. J.C. Higgins did not produce the saddles but rather sold them in the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog, some saddles were produced by Bona Allen company and the other higher grade saddles by Visalia Stock Saddle Company and rebranded under the J.C. Higgins name. Authentic J.C. Higgins parade saddles are characterized by their ornate "blingy" appearance and specific branding marks, the authentic J.C. Higgins brand stamp, often a bucking bronco logo, located in front of the saddle horn. Saddle displays intricate hand-carved ornate floral leather tooling on the skirt, fenders, and cantle. Silver covered and etched conchos, breast collar, fenders, rear jockey, skirt, horn, gullet and leather eagle-beak tapaderos. Tooled leather and silverwork displays rich patina. This dazzling and splendid saddle is in very nice presentation condition, no marring observed.

BIO: Visalia Stock Saddle Company

"The Visalia Stock Saddle Company saw its beginning in the year of 1870 with David E. Walker, better known as D. E. Walker. The Visalia Style Stock Saddle was the invention of Juan Maratrel, who created the very first Visalia Stock Saddle Tree, and D. E. Walker, having been a saddle maker, bought Juan Maratrel's shop in 1870.

After the purchase, D. E. Walker continued to have these saddle trees made with Ricardo Mattley exclusively for the next 20+ years for the Visalia Stock Saddle Company. At the time D. E. Walker bought the shop from Juan Maratrel, he had a partner named Henry Shuham, and from 1870 through 1877, the men ran the Visalia Stock Saddle Company as a partnership. It appears that between the years of 1877 and 1879, D. E. Walker had his own Saddlery and Harness Company in Visalia, CA where he continued to produce a Visalia Stock Style Saddle." -[https://www.vintagegunleather.com/company-marks/visalia_history.html 08/04/2017]

• artist: Visalia Stock Sadle Co.
• hallmarks: J. C. Higgins
• materials: sterling silver, leather, nickel silver
• measurements: seat: 14 1/2", height: 48", depth: 26", width: 19"
• vintage condition
• abrasions and surface wear commensurate with age
• silver has a nice patina with light oxidation
• wear from use
• style: Misc1416