Latin America, Mexico, ca. 1920s CE. A western style and ornately tooled leather charro wooden saddle with tooled leather covers, brass conchos, and iron fittings. One stirrup is hand carved from wood, while the other is cast iron with an applique horse head ornament! The seat, known as the tree or base, is carved from wood with an open center. The wood is covered with leather seat panels. This charro form developed from Spanish saddles, with horns added by Mexican riders for lasso use. Under the tree are two layers of leather skirts, and leather ties with brass conchos are secured along the skirt. The massive leather panels are connected by cords and rest around the horn. Everything on this saddle displays great signs of use and makeshift adjustments when parts needed replacement! Size of one leather cover panel: 29" L x 23.5" W (73.7 cm x 59.7 cm); the wood seat: 15" L x 12" W (38.1 cm x 30.5 cm)

Charro saddles differ from western American types, with a bigger seat and horn, using leather cords to stitch the panels together. The charro is a traditional Mexican horseman, the result of hundreds of years of blended indigenous and Spanish Colonial culture. After the conquest of Mexico, the Viceroyalty of New Spain prohibited indigenous people from riding or using horses aside from certain elite members of indigenous groups that had allied with the Spanish. However, as cattle became an important part of the Mexican economy, landowners needed horse riders to manage their herds. Farmers hired mestizo cowboys, who had to obey several laws in order to be allowed to ride a horse, including that they had to use a saddle different from that used by the Spanish military. From these first riders, horse riding grew in popularity, especially after the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1821). After the war, Mexico was in chaos, and some horsemen began dressing themselves in silver-adorned finery and dressing in the distinctive clothing of "charros" - elite horse riders with large sombreros, tight trousers, and embroidered jackets. Towards the end of the 19th century, President Benito Juarez established a group of mounted police known as the "rurales" to establish order in the countryside, and they drew upon the look and style of the "charros," coming to symbolize national unity, strength, and the ideal of Mexican manhood. Perhaps the most famous charro is General Emiliano Zapata. Today, the charro lives on in the national sport of Mexico, the "charreada" or Mexican rodeo.

Provenance: ex-Austin Auctions, Austin, Texas, USA

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#163754

Newer repairs with adhesive to circular piece on top of larger panel - this adhesive is starting to come apart in this area. Old repair to leather saddle cover panel with large leather stitching. Cracking, flaking, and losses to leather areas throughout. Fraying to stirrup straps. Not recommended for sitting on. Stirrups are mismatched - one is metal and the other is wood. Both are attached with older wires and additional leather pieces. Chips to wooden pommel, but lustrous with patina, as is the wooden seat and leather covering. Patina to all metal pieces. Overall good condition.