A Very elegant Morrish Saddle

Object Status:

Extant

Primary Source Reference:

Peale Museum Accessions Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 21

Additional Source Text:

"Probably a Saddle of State, together with the Bridle, spurs, leggings & Boots, richly embossed, embroidered & decked with massive Silver from S. America."

The donor was "of New Orleans."

Notes:

The only items from this ensemble believed to be extant are a spectacular cowhide and velvet mochila (seat cover) and anquera (rump cover) from Mexico, pictured here. They are among the many cultural items that the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, Harvard University, acquired in 1899 from Moses Kimball's Boston Museum. Kimball and P. T. Barnum jointly purchased many of the Peale collections when they were sold about 1849. It is possible that a bridle acquired from the Boston Museum that the Peabody describes as "Moorish" (pictured here) was also part of this ensemble, or it could have been one three "South American Bridles" given by Mrs. Mifflin in 1803.

Peale’s use of the term “Moorish” to describe the ensemble is apt, since Spanish and colonial Spanish horse gear, horses, and equestrian culture were heavily influenced by the Islamic occupation of Spain. They were also patterned after medieval European horse armor and trappings used by elites, which were often covered with heavy brocades, velvets and tapestries and embellished with figurative embroidery and luxury trims.

Daniel Clark (ca. 1766-1813) was appointed judge for the Territory of Mississippi in 1798; served as consul of New Orleans, Territory of Orleans, 1802-1803; was the first delegate from the Territory of Orleans to the U.S. House of Representatives, 1806-1809.