Actually, @Ravenscry posted that beautiful headstall and first phase belt, but I agree with everything you said. They are both stunners. 
1 Like
@TAH oops! @Ravenscry was responding to you! Typing too fast and not paying attention. Thank you for the correction.
2 Likes
I was going to say McKee Platero too. It is so rare to see his jewelry come to market, even more so than Kabotie I feel.
3 Likes
Dittio, Ditto, Ditto!!! Absolutely fabulous… love seeing the work of such an exceptionally talented artist!
.
2 Likes
I’ve been enjoying looking at this bridle in more detail. I love it that it has the Naja on the browband. I think most of us are familiar with the history of najas, but here is a little bit more info I found on the Garland’s site regarding their use on bridles.
What caught my eye immediately is the way the silver is rolled slightly away from the bridle here…
…so that it reminds me of a piece of the leather strap that didn’t get slipped through its keeper. I love that, although it might drive me a little nuts if I was actually using it on a horse (which of course I would be too afraid to do since it’s so amazing).
Thanks for sharing this!
6 Likes
You’re welcome, @Ziacat, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing the info from Garland’s.
That headstall, along with the following two, came to market at an auction in Santa Fe at the end of January.
While I find them all beautiful, I was mainly interested in the first one I’d shared, which was the last of the three lots in the auction. The first two went for (I feel) very cheap, so I admittedly felt a shred of misplaced confidence when the last one hit the block. As a matter of course, it went for far more than I was prepared to spend. But I’m grateful I was able to see them, that I had the oppurtunity and for the photos that I admire often.
3 Likes
I see they all have the silver wave out at the sides in the same way. Do you know if there’s a reason for that? Were they by the same maker?
This got me thinking about a bridle by Robert Johnson we posted on here last year, so I looked it up. The silver piece on the side appears to be curved out in the same way on it also. Now I’m going to have to look at some more online out of curiosity.
3 Likes
What makes sense to me is that it was a manner of adorning the termination of that particular strip of leather. I should purchase “Bridles of the Americas: Vol. 1: Indian Silver” by Ned and Jody Martin and provide you an intelligible answer! Here are a few more from a gallery in Santa Fe, all ca. 1890-1900…
Perhaps I should have added these to @TAH’s “For Horse Lovers Only” thread 
5 Likes
@Ravenscry Good to know the gallery has several headstalls to choose from, since I only need three. 
4 Likes
Thanks for sharing these. Apparently it definitely is a regular type of detail. Beautiful bridles!
@TAH, I think my riding instructor/friend might like one, although I’m sure she’s like me - she’d keep feeling like she needs to tuck that silver right down into its keeper 
2 Likes
The silver headstall adornment is incredible, but those ring bits!!! Makes me cringe, and hope they are not still being used in other countries!
Regardless, great to see these fabulous headstalls…
4 Likes
Perhaps we could get package pricing Tom? 
@Ziacat, at least you continue to get back in the saddle!
2 Likes
@Bmpdvm, I actually said the same thing out loud to my hubby about them, youch.
I always say the same thing. These old bridles are beautiful but the bits make me cringe. Same thing with any historic western spurs.
4 Likes
@Ziacat what you’re pointing out does make me want to “smooth it down.” Maybe those pieces curl out like that so the don’t rub the silver pieces beneath? It seems like all the head stalls with the “wave” also have silver directly underneath said wave. Maybe, it’s just a guess.
1 Like
@myblueheaven Oops! I’m guessing Val and Diplo were meant to go to Turquoise Celebrities, unless they are your “grail pieces”.
7 Likes