Saddle

Object Name:

Saddle

Object ID:

1916.018.01

Creator:

Topham, James S. (1832-1912)Leatherworker

Place of Origin:

Washington, DC

Date:

1877-1886

Description:

Saddle. Presented to General Joseph Haydn Potter (1822-1892). Yellow leather elaborately tooled in the western manner. McClellan-type army saddle complete with hooded stirrups, saddle bags, pistol holsters and dispatch roll behind cantle. Brass bound, holsters brass tipped, crupper, breast collar, plain halter and tooled bridle with curb bit part of matching outfit. Bridle has elaborate rosettes and fringed brow and nosebands. Stamped "JAS. S. TOPHAM / MAKER / WASHINGTON. D.C."

Material:

Leather
Metal

Dimensions:

H-16 inches

Provenance:

Presented to the donor's father, General Joseph Haydn Potter (1822-1892). Potter was born in Concord, NH, and died in Columbus, OH. During the Civil War he commanded the 12th NH Volunteers. His complete service record is in the accession file.

This is the saddle said for some years to have belonged to President Franklin Pierce. No basis for this assertion has been located at NHHS. A letter in the accession file from the donor, Alice Fay Potter, dated 1916 states that a saddle "presented to my father at a date unknown to me" was sent by her to the Society in a locked box. It is described by her as being elaborately decorated in the manner of the Mexicans and cowboys of the South and West. This saddle fits the description. The locked box is wooden trunk 1916.018.02.

Credit Line:

Gift of Alice Fay Potter

People:

Potter, Joseph H. (1822-1892), Topham, James S. (1832-1912), Potter, Alice F. (1866-1953)

Subjects:

Saddles