TSII #401, Koi & Water Lilies

 

Auction closes Saturday July 13th 8pm Eastern.  Current bid is listed on the Sale Catalog post, here.

Since this magnificent TSII prism tape Parade saddle already has its own long, rambling, densely rich historical post (published June 2019) here, this second post will serve merely to host more pictures.  (There is only one 2019 photo in that 1st post anyway.)  Ed. Note:  As of June 25, 2024, many more photos have found their way into this post, including some interesting low-light shots, which try to show the iridescence (one is just below).  I also discovered 2 pix of Colette herself with this saddle; they are at the bottom.

I found Koi & Water Lilies displayed as Colette had acquired it, worn by 'Duke,' the white Moody Saddlebred, John Wayne's horse.  The saddle will fit many large Trads, including Matriarch and Victrix.  Like all TSII saddles, it is adjustable, and the hip drops are detachable.  

I believe this saddle would display best on a horse that did not compete with its character.  The greens and golds work very well with a Palomino or light Chestnut in solid color.

The 2019 refit was extensive; the 2024 pass through my shop was only for minor cleaning. Colette certainly took care of her tack!  The most visible 2019 change was to replace the silver tape border scallops with ikandi iron-ons. Here's the new chest shield:

I have to hand it to this mold:  He displays the Koi very well.  The horse will come with a tag, not one that says "HORSE NOT INCLUDED" like all the other saddles, but Colette's actual show tag, with his show name written on it.

Offside serape (drape).

A closer view of the near serape.

Near side.  Prism tape saddles are notoriously difficult to shoot, requiring low light to really show what they're capable of.  I did my best with an overcast in 2019.  Later, (June 25, 2024), this year, I had fun trying to capture the shifting iridescence of this saddle.  Even with all my experience shooting, it is almost impossible to capture with a camera;  you must see it in person. 

Near shoulder panel:

And the same again -- see how the light shifts:

 Here's a slightly blurry view I thought captured some of the effect -- that's the pearly fish from the off serape:

And here's a view almost no one has seen:  Birds Eye!  Alas, taken before I polished the sterling horn cap!

The Koi set is possibly the most famous of my prism tape sets, which form a subset of all TSII silver saddles.  In a world with more time, I'd digitize both TSII Parade Scrapbooks and the public could enjoy the more than 100 model silver saddles that have been created.  This delightful idea would be my first choice for a third book!  

Below:  the moment in 2019 when Colette purchased #401.  It can be seen just beyond her shoulder.  Eleanor Jones Harvey looks on.

Oh Colette, we miss you so.