Pricing & History
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Sold for
$8,625.00
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Sold Date
October 2005
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Source
JAMES D. JULIA, Inc., Fairfield, Maine, USA
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Inflation-Adjusted Price
$8,625.00
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HISTORIC PRIVATE PURCHASE OFFICER’S SADDLE AND VALISE ATTRIBUTED TO CONFEDERATE GENERAL A.R. LAWTON. A beautiful example of a McClellan style officer’s saddle made by a high quality saddle maker and in marvelous condition. The entire seat, pommel, and cantle are covered in black bridal leather. The pommel has a stamped brass shield reading "11 inch seat". The leather on the saddle’s tree is hand tooled and decorated with fancy lines and a scalloped type decoration terminating in various points. The hardware on the saddle is typical of those used on US regulation saddles. Screwed to each side of the seat are extremely short skirts measuring 5-1/2" at their longest point, each one having a large five-point star atop a radiating tooled decoration. The decoration is identical on both skirts. The cinch and straps are held to the saddle with a combination of copper rivets and iron screws. The stirrup straps, stirrups, and hoods are all orig to the saddle. Two orig black bridal leather blanket straps accompany the saddle to which are attached a cloth and leather valise. The valise has a yellow leather edge binding and brass tacks on the body. It is lined with unbleached linen and each end has a gold bullion embroidered six-point star. The features of this saddle are of the general pattern of an 1858 McClellan saddle, being adapted in this custom made piece. While many of the components generally follow Federal standards, there are a number of unusual features, which may indicate that this saddle was made in the Confederacy. The saddle and valise are accompanied by a gray felt Chevrac, which is bound in yellow felt with a five-point star in the lower right hand corner of each side. The saddle and valise are attributed to Confederate General Alexander Robert Lawton. A letter of provenance from Michael Adamson states, "the saddle was purchased directly from the family estate which descended from Alexander Robt. Lawton who was commanding officer to the Georgia Brigade. Also included is a note from the lady from whom Mr. Adamson purchased the saddle, dated July 1999 also indicating that Lawton had owned the saddle. CONDITION: Saddle is in very fine condition with all orig parts. Some seam separation is apparent in the center of the seat. There have been some early repairs here and there. Leather surface on the saddletree is exceptional. Skirts are crackled and flexed but the decorations are clear. Cinch, stirrups, and stirrup straps are all flexible and strong. Blanket straps are heavily worn, but intact and strong. Valise, once black, has faded to a gray appearance. Edges are a bit tattered. A closing strap is missing. Chevrac or saddle blanket was obtained with the saddle and valise, however is not contemporary with it. General Lawton was born on November 4, 1818 in Beaufort, South Carolina. A graduate of West Point in 1839, he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1842. Settling in Savannah, he became a notable attorney, railroad magnate, and dabbled in state politics. Active in the state militia, he commanded state troops that seized Fort Pulaski in Georgia. On April 13, 1861, he accepted a commission as a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army. Assigned to Lee’s army of Northern Virginia, he took part in the Valley Campaign, Seven Days Campaign, and the Second Battle of Bull Run. In September 1862, he was wounded in action at the Battle of Antietam. As a result of his wounds, he accepted the position of Quartermaster General in August 1863. Moderately successful, he was frustrated and unable to solve the Confederacy’s problems of war material shortages and poorly organized railroads. Following his service in the Confederate Army, Lawton became an important political figure in Georgia, eventually losing his attempt at election to the US Senate in 1880. He was elected president of the American Bar Association in 1882 and appointed US Minister to Austria in 1887. Returning to his foreign service, he took up residence in Clifton Springs, New York, where he died on July 2, 1896. 4-56142 CW48 (20,000-30,000)
