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HORSEMEN OF THE AMERICAS
TINKER COLLECTION

One of the most significant collections of cowboy gear in the United States

The Edward L Tinker Collection consists of equipment made and used by the cowboys of North and South America. Tinker, a New York lawyer who traveled widely in Mexico and South America, assembled the collection in order to illustrate openrange ranching on both continents. He gave it to the University of Texas at Austin in hopes that it would, he wrote, “fire the imaginations of succeeding generations to learn more about their neighbors to the south and thus, destroy that foolish feeling of foreignness know as xenophobia.” The collection is on long-term loan from the University of Texas at Austin to Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum. There are approximately 975 objects in the “Horsemen of the Americas - Tinker Collection.”

HORSEMEN OF THE AMERICAS TINKER COLLECTION

The Edward L Tinker Collection consists of equipment made and used by the cowboys of North and South America. Tinker, a New York lawyer who traveled widely in Mexico and South America, assembled the collection in order to illustrate openrange ranching on both continents. He gave it to the University of Texas at Austin in hopes that it would, he wrote, “fire the imaginations of succeeding generations to learn more about their neighbors to the south and thus, destroy that foolish feeling of foreignness know as xenophobia.” The collection is on long-term loan from the University of Texas at Austin to Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum. There are approximately 975 objects in the “Horsemen of the Americas - Tinker Collection.”

One of the most significant collections of cowboy gear in the United States

Gallery

  • Leather and silver stirrups. Argentina, date unknown.
  • Wood, iron, and brass stirrup. Chile, 18th or early 19th century. The initials"MJ"are carved into the stirrup.
  • Silver metal stirrups with copper alloy coating. Peru, 18th century. The stirrups are decorated with horsehead medallions.
  • Silver or silver plated stirrup for a woman's side-saddle. Peru, 18th century.
  • Iron stirrup. Country and date unknown.
  • Silver-plated metal stirrup with bird and floral design. Argentina, 19th century.
  • Silver metal stirrups with floral design. Argentina, date unknown.
  • Silver spurs with leather boot straps and silver buckles and keepers. Argentina or Uruguay, date unknown. The shank is decorated with an openwork stylized phoenix in looping scrolls. A metal chain encircles the ankle of the boot for additional support.
  • Iron and silver spurs. Chile, date unknown.
  • Hand-forged iron spur. Mexico, date unknown.
  • Iron spurs with rawhide straps. Chile, date unknown.
  • Gilded metal spurs, marked "Thomas James". Country and date unknown.
  • Gilded metal child's spurs. Country and date unknown. The spike is intended to pierce a boot heel, holding the spur on the boot.
  • Metal spurs with heel bands in the form of coiled snakes. Mexico, date unknown. The leather straps are stitched with a floral motif in white thread.
  • Silver spurs with metal inlay decoration. Mexico, early 20th century. Mexican coins dated 1896 and 1903 decorate the shanks where the rowels are attached.
  • Iron spurs with silver inlay. Mexico, date unknown. The heel bands are decorated on both sides, and the shank is a figure 8. (photo 1 of 2)
  • Iron spurs with silver inlay. Mexico, date unknown. The heel bands are decorated on both sides, and the shank is a figure 8. (photo 2 of 2)
  • Silver spurs with hawk head ornaments on shanks. Colombia, date unknown.
  • Metal spurs with Indian head medallion on shank. United States, c. 1900. Made by August Buermann Manufacturing Company, Newark, New Jersey.
  • Braided horsehair lasso. Mexico or the United States, date unknown.
  • Braided rawhide lasso. Mexico or United States, date unknown. One strand of rawhide has been stained with a reddish-brown dye.
  • Silver spurs with snake motifs and lion medallions. Argentina, date unknown.
  • Iron spurs with silver inlay. Mexico, date unknown.
  • Iron and silver inlay spurs with twisted rope design. Mexico, date unknown.
  • Metal spurs. Brazil, early 20th century. The spurs are marked "Alpacca Eberle 73". Alpacca was a trade name for a metal alloy resembling silver; Eberle was a Brazilian hardware manufacturer in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
  • Silver spurs with snake motif and lion medallions. Argentina, date unknown
  • Iron spurs with silver inlay. Mexico, date unknown.
  • Boots and heel guards. Peru, date unknown. Silver metal buckels. Part of chalan (gentleman rider) costume.
  • Gaucho hat. Argentina, date unknown. Leather crown and sweat band, felt brim, rawhide band, and leather chin strap. Handmade hat assembled from parts from other hats.
  • Tooled leather and wood Peruvian paso saddle with baúl-type stirrups. Peru, 1961. The saddle has a high cantle and pommel but no horn, as it is made for riding Peruvian paso horses rather than for roping cattle. The initials "ELT", for Edward Larocque Tinker, are tooled on both rear saddle flaps. The saddle was made by Ernesto J. Diaz y Diaz in the city of Trujillo, Peru.
  • Leather, wood, and canvas Spanish silla vaquero, cowboy saddle. Spain, 20th century. The silla vaquero is one of several types of traditional Spanish saddles. It incorporates a straw-filled canvas sack into its tree and is covered with a zalea, an undressed sheepskin. A striped cotton manta estribera, stirrup cloth, completes the rig.
  • Leather and silver bridle and spade bit. Mexico, c. 1865. The silver medallions on the bridle are decorated with lion's heads. The bit's roller has copper-alloy coils in order to stimulate saliva.
  • Leather and silver bridle and bit. Argentina, date unknown. Silver pendants in the forms of a double- headed eagle and three fish are suspended from the bridle's headband. The double-headed eagle was the emblem of imperial Spain.
  • Leather and silver bridle and ring bit. Country and date unknown.
  • Steel ring bit. Mexico, date unknown.
  • Braided rawhide rebenque, or riding whip, used by gauchos. South America, date unknown.
  • Silver or pewter and leather rebenque, or riding whip, used by gauchos. South America, date unknown.
  • Leather and wood western saddle, United States, c. 1920. This classic cowboy saddle has a high cantle, a wide fork, and a deep seat. The metal horn is firmly bolted to the wooden tree and the saddle is double-rigged with both front and rear cinches to make sure it stays on the horse when a wild cow is on the other end of the rider's rope. It is marked "A.D. Seitzler and Co., Silver City, NM." Seitzler made saddles in Silver City between 1914 and 1929.
  • Leather leggings with leather tassels and metal buckles. Chile, date unknown. Leggings such as these are part of the costume of the chalan or gentleman rider.
  • Braided rawhide and leather rebenque or riding whip. Brazil, c. 1950. The weighted handle is made of braided black and white rawhide.
  • Leather rebenque, or riding whip, with a weighted wooden handle. Argentina, date unknown.
  • Rawhide hobbles. Brazil, date unknown. Hobbles are used to restrain the two front feet of grazing animals so they cannot run away.
  • Cord and leather saddle cinch. Peru or Argentina, date unknown. The cinch is marked "Cincha Atcha" and "Sinbado"
  • Leather and metal horse blinders. Country and date unknown. Blinders are used when saddling and mounting an unruly horse.
  • Leather, wood, and silver charro saddle. Mexico, late 19th or early 20th century. The charro saddle, with its wide horn, is a close relative of the western roping saddle, although ornate saddles like this were not used for working cattle but were the riding saddles of wealthy landowners. This example, with the monogram "M" on the horn, was made in Guadalajara, Jalisco by Nicolas Barajas. (photo 1 of 2)
  • Leather, wood, and silver charro saddle. Mexico, late 19th or early 20th century. The charro saddle, with its wide horn, is a close relative of the western roping saddle, although ornate saddles like this were not used for working cattle but were the riding saddles of wealthy landowners. This example, with the monogram "M" on the horn, was made in Guadalajara, Jalisco by Nicolas Barajas. (photo 2 of 2)
  • Silver metal stirrups with rawhide straps. Argentina, 18th or 19th centuries.
  • Saddle blanket made from red, orange, and maroon yarns. Brazil, 20th century.
  • Rawhide and braided rawhide gaucho belt. Argentina, 20th century.
  • Straw hat. Mexico, c. 1950. This is the classic high-crowned Mexican sombrero, many of which were made in the United States and Europe for export to Mexico. This one is stamped "Paris" inside the crown, but that may be the name of a Mexican manufacturer or retailer.
  • Suede leather and silver embroidery vest. Country and date unknown.
  • Metal bit and braided rawhide reins. Mexico, date unknown.
  • Leather bridle, metal ring bit. Mexico, date unknown. Parts of the bridle are decorated with silver wrapped thread embroidery.
  • Rawhide and wood boleadoras. Argentina, date unknown.
  • Boleadoras. Argentina or Uruguay, date unknown. The boleadoras is used by gauchos to bring down cattle or game by entangling their legs. It is held by one of the balls, swung over the head to gain momentum, and then thrown at the target.
  • Leather and iron stirrups. Chile, 20th century.
  • Carved wooden stirrup. Argentina, date unknown. The stirrup is marked "Bazar El Siglo, San Pablo 991", probably the name and street address of the store in which it was purchased. An inscription inside the stirrup reads, in English, "It is behind the grave.“
  • Carved wood and iron baúl-type stirrups. Peru, late 19th century. The name comes from the stirrup's resemblance to a chest or trunk, baúl in Spanish.
  • Stirrups, silver with gold inlay, South America, 19th century. These ornate and beautifully crafted stirrups were probably made for a wealthy landowner.
  • Carved and painted wood and iron stirrups. Chile, 18th century.
  • Leather and wood California-style saddle, United States, c. 1890. This saddle, with its wide silver- mounted horn, is closely related to the Mexican charro saddle and shows the Mexican influence on the early California ranching industry. It was made in San Francisco and is marked "S. McGregor, Maker, S.F" The silver trim on the cantle is stamped "Shreve and Company, San Francisco.”
  • Facon, knife and sheath. Probably South American, date unknown.
  • Facon, knife and sheath. Argentina or Uruguay, c. 1900. The blade is marked "Broqua Scholberg & Cia., Rosario.
  • Facon, knife and sheath. Argentina, c. 1900. The blade is marked "Manantial, Tandil Ind, Argentina". Tandil Independencia is a town in Buenos Aires Province.
  • Silver-handled knife with silver sheath. Bolivia, c. 1900. The blade is inscribed "Union Es La Fuerza" ("Union Is Strength") and "Republica Boliviana"
  • Leather and horn wine canteen in shape of a bull. Country and date unknown.
  • Chuspa, or tobacco pouch, embroidered with floral motif. Argentina, date unknown.
  • Cow horn chifle, or water canteen, with silver mounts. South America, date unknown. The silver caps on each end are engraved with floral patterns.
  • Gourd and silver metal maté cup with bird on handle. South America, date unknown.
  • Silver maté cup. Maté is a strong tea made from the leaves of a holly tree llex paraguariensis, and favored by gauchos. Argentina, date unknown. Marked "Industria Argentina" and "La Mulata M. Reg."
  • Silver bombilla. Argentina, date unknown. The tube is decorated with two llamas.
  • Silver bombilla. South America, date unknown. The word "Prata" stamped on the strainer may indicate that the bombilla was made in Prata, Brazil.
  • Silver bombilla. South America, date unknown.
  • Silver bombilla, a straw for drinking maté from a cup. South America, date unknown. The bulb serves as a strainer for the loose maté leaves.
  • Silver bombilla with gold mouthpiece. South America, date unknown.
  • Gourd and silver maté cup with long-eared animals on the rim. Maté cups range from simple carved gourds to ornate examples like this one.
  • Gourd and metal maté cup Uruguay, c. 1850. This cup is said to have belonged to General Fructoso Rivera, the first president of Uruguay.
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