TSII #434, Rose Gold Concho

 

The Rose Gold Concho saddle, TSII #434, was a triumph of braidwork and design when it was made in 2004.  Timingwise it falls between the Elk, my own braided set (TSII #432), and #435, originally known as Tackett's Brown Zebra.  The Rose was part of a wave of braided-edge saddles that started with a Parade set, #428 and ended with #437, the Bongo.  The wave was preceded by (and followed with) some incredible efforts known as Peruvian Paso sets, so I really had braidwork on the mind!

 The auction for this saddle closes on Wednesday July 10, at 7pm Eastern.  Delivery is free at BreyerFest.  For the latest bid and all the details, see the master Sales Catalog post here.

This past week (June 26), I cleaned up this saddle.  Colette took very good care of her pieces and this one needed the least work of all.   In the 20 years, only the dees and conchos accumulated a thin layer of goldeny exudate, which was easily rubbed off.  If the next owner keeps this gorgeous example of model tack carefully bagged (airtight) it ought to last another 20 years...

 

 

Another contemporary (2024) shot.  The tag on the horse says HORSE NOT INCLUDED.

 

Here are some 2004 photos from when the saddle was made:

Of course braidwork in model tack continues to be my focus today.

The notes in the Grey Braid Scrapbook say: "begun 0402.26, Ended 0403. 26.  A very famous set owing to the exciting auction.  It was displayed at MAR and GPMHS.  Even more perfected braidwork."  

The TSII Saddle Number registry says: "Rose Gold Concho" auction saddle.  Tan and half-tan double skirt tooled in Rose Rayonnant; seat left plain and undyed.  ISH.  Pommel of new encased-metal type as well as seat;  stirrups also have thin metal cores.  Completely trimmed in braided sinew:  horn rim, horn neck (almost all the way around), gullet, stirrup edges, cantle, back cinch rings, both back skirts.  Four corner plates:  Rio Rondo P106 & P121 held on with largish gold pins.  Most hardware stainless -- cinch rings homemade.  Conchos mostly pinned domed etched -- small dees held at 1st and 4th points (like Elk).  No strings.  Marching breastcollar and bridle of long button sinew.  Auctioned on eBay April 5, 2004, to Denise Stover."

Rose Rayonnant was a tooling pattern I developed around then.  It is a matter of timing, I think, that Colette's saddles so often feature this pattern.