North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Artistry of the West: Rare Beadwork & Historic Western Wonders November 9th Auction

Sat, Nov 9, 2024 11:00AM EST
  2024-11-09 11:00:00 2024-11-09 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Artistry of the West: Rare Beadwork & Historic Western Wonders November 9th Auction https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/artistry-of-the-west-rare-beadwork-historic-western-wonders-november-9th-auction-17032
Join us for our Artistry of the West: Rare Beadwork & Historic Western Wonders November 9th Auction here in Bozeman, Montana. From historic beadwork and weapons to Western Spurs, artwork, and antiques, the sale is truly a stunning collection.
North American Auction Company tucker@naabid.com
Lot 58

Ca 1920-30 Qualey Bros Silver Mounted Spurs

Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000
Starting Bid
$50

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000

This is a fabulous set of silver mounted spurs from the Qualey Bros. Joseph Plains, Idaho from circa 1920-1930's from the Ron Gillette collection. The spurs have the iconic Qualey shield silver mounting pattern on the heel band along with the documented silver mounted chap guard with concho spot as well as the silver concho spot on the rowel pin cover and the unique Qualey Bros. half moon like silver mounting around the rowel pin cover. This pattern of shield with spotted chap guard, half moon rowel pin cover with spot is shown in the same form on various documented Qualey spurs (images in photos for example). Provenance: Collected directly from Ron Gillette and Linda Gillette, the same collection that sold the Qualey Shield set at Morphy Auctions for $25,200. Other examples of the nearly identical Qualey Bros. shield pattern include the set sold by Morphy Auctions in June 2024 for $25,200, the set listed with Western Trading Post for $9,500, the set listed on the Old Spur Buyer & Expert colleting page. Tom Qualey (1904-1977) Knut Qualey came from Norway as a blacksmith in 1900 to live in Idaho. He homesteaded a ranch on Joseph Plains, Idaho, and raised his nine children after his wife died in 1915. His sons Jens, Tom, Nels and Olaf would reshape old farm tools or wagon wheel rims into bits and spurs, with Tom being the most talented. In 1920, Tom and Nels began making bits and spurs in their spare time at the ranch, marking them “Qualey Bros.” In 1942 the ranch was sold and Nels stopped silversmithing. Beginning in 1944, Tom, working solo, made pieces marking them “Qualey”. Most of these were sold by either Ray Holes or through Miller Hardware in Grangeville. Tom was a master engraver, who, according to saddle maker Ray Holes, was unequaled in his ability to do precision engraving, using only a forge, hammer, hacksaw and file. The condition of this pair of spurs is extremely well preserved with only very slight oxidation to the steel and to the rowels with some slight wear to the spur straps but otherwise shows a well preserved condition. The measurements of this pair of spurs is 3 1/4" x 10 1/2" x 4 1/4". The collective weight of this pair of spurs is 1lb 14oz. The spur straps feature heavy harness leather with brass studded decoration with a maker's mark that reads as follows: K. Pomner - Maker - Huron, S.D.

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