Lot of 4, including a 7 x 9.5 in. (sight) oil painting of a chestnut horse's head by "Buffalo Gal," Adele von Ohl Parker. Parker's brand (an inverted v over an o) is burned into the top of the frame that houses the oil painting. The lot also features an original 7.75 x 5 in. pencil sketch of an excited stallion, a 7 x 5 in. pencil and watercolor scene mounted on cardboard capturing wild horses on a rocky cliff, and a 13.25 x 11.5 in. pencil sketch of a group of cowboys on horseback, which must have been a draft for a future painting, because the artist has written horse names and colors at the bottom that she intended to use. Accompanied by a copy of the seller's certificate from the Von Ohl School of Horsemanship with Adele Parker's signature, a notarized statement of authenticity, and over 20 high quality photocopies of photographs of Adele from the early 20th Century through the last year of her life. Adele von Ohl Parker was a daredevil horseback rider and "Buffalo Gal" in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. After she and her husband, Jim Parker, left Buffalo Bill's they continued to amaze audiences with their stunt riding in other Wild West programs and silent films. In 1928 she found herself stranded in the Cleveland area after the Hippodrome cancelled her performance. Despite the setback, she settled in the area and purchased a plot of land on Mastick Road in North Olmsted, currently known as Parker Ranch. The ranch became her riding school where she coordinated many day camps for children and hosted "Wild West Shows" performed by one hundred of her students and local American Indians. She had a philanthropic spirit and donated the proceeds of her expositions and circuses to charities benefiting children, she also allowed children unable to pay for lessons to clean stables and take care of the horses as payment. The ranch attracted more celebrities when Gene Autry chose to keep his horses at the ranch while performing Stampede in Cleveland. She sold her land to her friend and neighbor George Wasmer, who allowed her to live there until her death in 1966. Several original buildings and a historical marker on the side of the road stand in memory of the remarkable rider who brought the spirit of the Wild West to Cleveland. Although the painting and sketches are unsigned by the artist, they come directly from one of her riding pupils. Most of Parker's belongings from her Wild West days are at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, WY, along with two examples of of her paintings. Provenance: Purchased from Estate of Adele von Ohl Parker in North Olmstead, Ohio Condition: Very good overall. A scan of the certificate is available upon request.
Lot of 4, including a 7 x 9.5 in. (sight) oil painting of a chestnut horse's head by "Buffalo Gal," Adele von Ohl Parker. Parker's brand (an inverted v over an o) is burned into the top of the frame that houses the oil painting. The lot also features an original 7.75 x 5 in. pencil sketch of an excited stallion, a 7 x 5 in. pencil and watercolor scene mounted on cardboard capturing wild horses on a rocky cliff, and a 13.25 x 11.5 in. pencil sketch of a group of cowboys on horseback, which must have been a draft for a future painting, because the artist has written horse names and colors at the bottom that she intended to use. Accompanied by a copy of the seller's certificate from the Von Ohl School of Horsemanship with Adele Parker's signature, a notarized statement of authenticity, and over 20 high quality photocopies of photographs of Adele from the early 20th Century through the last year of her life. Adele von Ohl Parker was a daredevil horseback rider and "Buffalo Gal" in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. After she and her husband, Jim Parker, left Buffalo Bill's they continued to amaze audiences with their stunt riding in other Wild West programs and silent films. In 1928 she found herself stranded in the Cleveland area after the Hippodrome cancelled her performance. Despite the setback, she settled in the area and purchased a plot of land on Mastick Road in North Olmsted, currently known as Parker Ranch. The ranch became her riding school where she coordinated many day camps for children and hosted "Wild West Shows" performed by one hundred of her students and local American Indians. She had a philanthropic spirit and donated the proceeds of her expositions and circuses to charities benefiting children, she also allowed children unable to pay for lessons to clean stables and take care of the horses as payment. The ranch attracted more celebrities when Gene Autry chose to keep his horses at the ranch while performing Stampede in Cleveland. She sold her land to her friend and neighbor George Wasmer, who allowed her to live there until her death in 1966. Several original buildings and a historical marker on the side of the road stand in memory of the remarkable rider who brought the spirit of the Wild West to Cleveland. Although the painting and sketches are unsigned by the artist, they come directly from one of her riding pupils. Most of Parker's belongings from her Wild West days are at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, WY, along with two examples of of her paintings. Provenance: Purchased from Estate of Adele von Ohl Parker in North Olmstead, Ohio Condition: Very good overall. A scan of the certificate is available upon request.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
