South America, Argentina, ca. late 19th century CE. A lavish type of riding crop known as a rebenque used by gaucho cowboys, made from wood wrapped in a thick rawhide and capped with a nickel-silver repousse finial handle. On the receiving end is a leather tab that once attached to a longer leather strap. The repousse nickel-silver is decorated with foliate motifs and pierced just below the bulbous end for handle strap. The ornate rebenques, such as this, were a symbol of wealth and power for the ranch owners or estancieros. Size: 18.75" L x 1.5" W (47.6 cm x 3.8 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

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#173586

Missing leather strap end and handle strap. Abrasions and surface wear to rawhide rod. Indentations, dark toning, and patina on the nickel silver.