Miscellaneous, Saddle, Visalia Stock Saddle, Early Mark, 101 Wild West Show History, Antique, Turn of the Century, 578

UNBELIEVABLE ANTIQUE STATEMENT SADDLE WITH A STORIED HISTORY.

Double D Ranch is pleased to offer this highly decorated Visalia marked saddle. This particular one was highly decorated with brass tacks (studded) at some point early in its life. According to the verbal history handed down from previous owners, this saddle belonged to Len Lyons, who rode in the 101 Wild West Show. (It certainly looks like one they would have used in a Wild West Show!) A truly remarkable work of art for the collector of outstanding Americana.

"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 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]

According to the verbal history handed down from previous owners, this saddle belonged to Len Lyons, who rode in the 101 Wild West Show. The saddle certainly looks like one they would have used in a Wild West Show. 

• artist: Visalia Stock Saddle Co.
• hallmarks: D.E. WALKER MAKER VISALIA. CAL. (early Visalia mark)
• materials: leather, brass tacks, wood tree
• dimensions: seat 13"
• vintage condition
  
• typical wear for age and use
• style number: Misc578