A pair of large rawhide saddle bags which are ornately decorated with a series of layered cutouts, backed with red and black fabric. The cutoffs reveal a variety of cutout shapes, including hearts, diamonds and crosses. The bottom fringe is accented on the ends with lobed drops which are stained in ochre.

Saddle bags are ubiquitous throughout the Plains, Plateau and Southwest. These bags, as their name suggests, typically sat on the backs of horses (in tandem with a saddle frame) and were used to transport clothing, food and equipment.

The Apache are known for their unique take on this form. Using hide and fabrics, the Apache created ornate designs using positive and negative space from cut-out designs. Artists were inspired by a variety of shapes and motifs, including Spanish and Anglo-American playing cards. This may explain the use of diamond and heart-shaped cut-outs on the subject pair.

The subject pair is truly a monumental, both in size and technical artistry. I know of few pairs which come close proportionally and with this level of ornamentation.

Ex Trotta-Bono, NY; ex Jerrold Collings, AZ.

47” long and 18” wide (as displayed); accompanied by a custom stand.

#51203