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Pure Cowboy
Members: National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collector's Association Members: Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America
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Item #HS109/ Inquire For Price
Extremely Rare G. S. Garcia Headstall (Gutierrez) and Bit (Estrada)
 This G. S. Garcia Headstall is in impeccable condition. This is a classic,
early Elko, Nevada Headstall with G. S. Garcia's trademark coin silver mounted
butterflies, hearts, clubs, spades, diamonds and exquisite concho buckles
fancifully engraved with his extremely popular card suit iconography. The silver
bit clasp is the trademark G. S. Garcia snake. It is extremely difficult
to find any leather work made in the G. S. Garcia shop of early Elko, Nevada due
to the delicacy of leather as a medium. To encounter an all original,
pristine headstall such as this snake and card suit piece, which has been cared for so well, is almost
impossible.
Concho Buckle on the Headstall, likely to have been engraved by Rafael Gutierrez between 1911 and 1916 Further enhancing the value and desirability of this piece is the highly probable connection by way of engraving style with Rafael (Filo) Gutierrez*. The early G. S. Garcia bit has been used heavily and the interior iron shows wear. Thankfully, the silver still intact and the only piece that is missing is the cricket. It is highly likely that the headstall and bit were purchased together by the original owner. After researching the styles of engravers who worked for G. S. Garcia during the first years, when this bit was made, it is extremely likely that the silver work on this bit is an example of the distinctive engraving work of the exemplary Juan (John) Estrada**. Interestingly, these two makers worked for G. S. Garcia within the first 10 years of the 1900's but did not work together at the Garcia shop. They were subsequently hired by other well known saddleries at different times for the next 20 years or so. After many years of working across California and Nevada, Mr. Estrada retired to Sacramento, where he continued to collaborate with Rafael Gutierrez until the end of his life in 1945, allowing the younger maker to place his name first on their mark because Mr. Gutierrez did the engraving. There are only 3 known bits that are marked Gutierrez-Estrada.
Early G. S. Garcia Bit, likely to have been engraved by Juan (John) Estrada between 1896 and 1906
This bit is marked G. S. GARCIA /
ELKO, NEV. on the inside cheeks. There is much wear and corrosion in
the interior iron, having been used over a long period of time.
* Rafael "Filo" Gutierrez was a master silversmith for the G. S. Garcia, Elko, shop from 1911 to 1916. A well-known master silver engraver, Filo Gutierrez was born December 13, 1889 in San Francisco. By 1905, he was working as a bit and spur maker apprentice with Bill Drake and Rollie Van Buskirk. When he was in his early 20's, Filo journeyed to Sacramento, the home of such legendary makers as Thomas Hidreth, Van Voorhies and Clarence Nelson, to work with Bernard Valenzuela. Mr. Gutierrez worked the Northern California circuit following the large saddle companies before joining the renowned G. S. Garcia in Elko, Nevada, in 1911. At the Garcia saddlery Filo formed working relationships with other bit and spur makers that included John Estrada, Steve Clarke, William Phillips and Alsalio Herrera. Five years later, in 1916, Gutierrez moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming forming a partnership with Bill Phillips and setting up shop at 423 West 19th Street. In 1918, Phillips was drafted to serve in WWI, and Steve Clarke joined Filo in Cheyenne for one year before the partnership dissolved in 1919 and Gutierrez moved to San Francisco to start his own business. ** Juan (John) Estrada was a contemporary of Mr. Gutierrez and also a master silver engraver who worked at the G. S. Garcia shop in Elko from 1896 until 1906, when he moved to Winnemucca to work as the Master Engraver for the Goldberg-Staunton Saddlery Company - partly owned by Gus Goldberg, another one time employee of G. S. Garcia. He continued to work with Gus Goldberg, moving in 1921 to Sacramento to join Goldberg Saddlery. In 1925, the makers of this set met up again in San Francisco and Juan (John) Estrada formed a partnership with the man who is believed to have engraved this headstall: Rafael Gutierrez. Another bit in the Pure Cowboy collection that is attributed to Mr. Estrada can be found by clicking here: G. S. Garcia #16 Crescent Bit.
Early G. S. Garcia Bit, likely to have been engraved by Juan (John) Estrada between 1896 and 1906
Early G. S. Garcia Bit, likely to have been engraved by Juan (John) Estrada between 1896 and 1906
G. S. Garcia Card Suit and Butterfly Headstall & Bit Set / Item #HS109/ Inquire For Price Click Here To Send Us An E-mail About This Headstall and Bit Set! Contact Us To Arrange Your Purchase
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Please contact us at your convenience: michael@purecowboy.us or sarah@purecowboy.us Members: National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collector's Association Pure Cowboy, 1770 West State Street, # 315, Boise, Idaho 83702 208.342.5019 or toll free: 888.575.1890 All items sold by Pure Cowboy are for decorative purposes only. All other uses are exclusively the buyer's responsibility Copyright © 2008-2014 Pure Cowboy |
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