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National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum ®
Carol Gessell
Saddlemaker

Carol Gessell

Member

About the Artist

Artwork
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Artwork by Carol Gessell

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Saddle

Saddle

$30,065

Wanting to create a saddle that looked striking from a distance but was also ready to ride, Gessell built this — her first TCAA exhibition saddle — on a Wade tree constructed by Dusty Smith. Fully carved with “wild looking” flowers that are each unique, Gessell applied an antique finish along with various dye techniques to the background and edges to give the saddle a more dramatic finish. An overlay of blue flowers on the cantle back adds a pop of unexpected color. Heavy gauge sterling silver accents crafted by TCAA silversmith Scott Hardy offer the perfect contrast to the leather on this fully lined saddle.

Additional Images

Saddle
Saddle
Saddle

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Purse

Purse

$4,200

Gessell created this Western style purse suitable for occasions requiring one to dress up, yet it can also be used daily when one is dressed casually. Leather carved and versatile, it features a small pocket on the interior and silver buckle and front slide produced by TCAA silversmith Beau Compton.

Purse

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Spur Straps

Straps

$2,525

Crafted to match her inaugural TCAA saddle, Gessell carved these spur straps with complementary “wild little flowers” and applied the same dye techniques. As with the saddle, the spur straps are fully lined and feature heavy gauge sterling silver buckles fabricated by TCAA silversmith Scott Hardy.

Spur Straps

Carol Gessell

Ennis, Montana

Having always loved horses and beautiful handmade Western gear, Carol Gessell was given a little Tandy leather kit as a child, which she used to make tack for her model horses. Though she put the kit away when she got older, she pulled it out again years later to make tack for real horses. Gessell started her own custom leather business around 1998, and by 1999 she was able to focus on working leather full-time. Shortly after, she began to build saddles. In 2017, Gessell was the recipient of a TCAA Fellowship. Encouraged by the mentors she met through the fellowship program, she began applying for TCAA membership. Earlier this year, Gessell became the first full TCAA member who is a female.