Visitors to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum® can enjoy a unique exhibit of collector's quality cowboy gear through December 4, 2005. This exhibition offers the finest of Western saddles, bits, spurs, braided rawhide gear and exquisite silver work by 15 talented gear makers from the Western United States and Canada.
This prestigious event attracts a loyal group of patrons, who travel from across the country to purchase authentic objects that range in value from several hundred to $45,000. While cowboy gear is still in great demand on working ranches throughout America, pieces of this quality are seldomly attained without extremely long waiting periods. The items in the exhibit are rarely used and are collected and displayed as works of art.
Included in the exhibit and sale are such items as Nevada bit and spur maker Mark Dahl's stunning Spanish colonial-style ring bit made of cold-rolled steel accented with inlaid and overlaid Sterling silver; Oregon bit and spur maker Ernie Marsh's Chihuahua-style spurs sculpted in a lizard motif and ornamented with 24K gold overlay and Fine silver inlay; and Idaho saddlemaker Rick Bean's Visalia-style saddle with a fully-carved square skirt, full double leather covered rigging, topped off with a matching pair of bucking rolls.
Other examples of authentic cowboy gear are displayed from the Museum's permanent collections throughout the American Cowboy and American Rodeo Galleries and the Western Performers Gallery.
The National Cowboy Museum marks its 50th anniversary in 2005 with special exhibitions and activities. Nationally accredited, the Museum is located at the junction of I-44 and I-35. For more information, visit www.nationalcowboymuseum.org or call (405) 478 2250.
