RAREST MAKER HERMAN FRIEDRICK NYC 1940s Sterling 10k Gold Trophy Buckle Bohlin

Description

Friedrick Buckle – For sale is one of the rarest and most exceptional belt buckles I have come across in my decades of collecting – a truly authentic HERMAN FRIEDRICK trophy buckle in sterling and gold with two of the biggest rubies I have ever seen. Friedrick maintains an almost mythical role in the western silversmithing world.
The only maker based on the east coast, Friedrick was a German immigrant who set up shop next to Madison Square Garden and made custom sets for the rodeo cowboys and champions who would perform there. Of the “Big Three” of classical buckle making – Ed Bohlin, Don Ellis, and Herman Friedrick – he alone remains the most elusive to collectors. Because westernwear in NYC was not big in his time, Friedrick maintained a small clientele of custom orders, so all his pieces remain either as family heirlooms or are locked away in museums. Also of note – because of his geographic distance from the west, all of Friedrick’s blanks are hand made by himself, with none of the trading and buying you see among LA makers.
This particular piece features a very thick gauge gold steer-roping scene. The gold is far thicker than any Bohlin or other buckle from this time. It is also set with two MASSIVE ruby stones, for size comparison is a standard Bohlin buckle. They are probably in the 1-2 carat range each. Most importantly, this piece comes with the original sterling BELT TIP! I have never seen another piece come with a tip, this is not marked Friedrick but has the unmistakable engraving style of the trophy buckle.
Also of historical interest is that during WWII, anti-German sentiment spurred a handful of zealously patriotic buckle owners to scratch out the FRIEDRICK maker mark - the only other FRIEDRICK set on eBay exhibits this curious damage. Thus, having a well maintained hallmark is even rarer and quite important for collectible value.
This buckle takes up to a 1.5 inch belt, please note the belt tip is tapered down to around 1 inch. The buckle measures 3” by 2.25”. Attached are ALL the auction results for Friedrick buckles recorded. They really are the rarest pinnacles of western buckles. Do not miss this one! You won’t find it again.
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ALL SALES ARE FINAL. I repeat, all sales are final. I post ample pictures of my pieces and detailed descriptions, and my inbox is always open for questions. Thus, there is no room for miscommunication or poorly described listings. I attempt to date all my buckles using my knowledge as a collector and through serious research – I will never deliberately lie about the provenance of a piece. However, please do not try to dispute the age or other aspect of a piece AFTER you have purchased it – there is plenty of time for questions and clarifications before the bidding ends.
As all my belts and buckles are vintage to antique, please zoom in closely and be aware of every aspect of the item. I will never omit a serious issue, but I cannot account for every ding, scratch, etc. You are responsible for being an informed buyer, that means doing your research, asking the proper questions, and following the rules of this auction. I have found that collectors of Western Americana are some of the most decent and upstanding people I have met in my life, so I am sure this will not be an issue. Thank you and God bless!
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