Lot 48

Deer Lodge Montana Prison Made Horsehair Headstall

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

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
Featured in this lot is this Deer Lodge Montana prison made horsehair headstall. This is a finely hitched horsehair headstall and reins from the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. This is a fully hitched bridle with no segments of leather and shows a unique design with "Stars and Bars" decoration adorning the brow band, crown piece, top of the throat latch, and both outside of the cheek pieces. The reins show a design of striking geometric patterns. The bit featured attached to the headstall is a twisted ring snaffle bit. In the western United States, the history of hitching is intertwined with the history of territorial and modern day prisons in the western United States. It was the first hobby at Montana State Prison, dating back to the territorial prison in Deer Lodge. Charlie Russell, the famous western artist, wrote about men down at Deer Lodge “twistin hairs”. Other commonly known prisons for horsehair were located at Yuma and Florence, Arizona; Rawlins, Wyoming; and Walla Walla, Washington. The condition of this hitched horse hair headstall is good with no obvious signs of damage and shows good overall condition