Lot 88: Earl Wesley Bascom (1906-1995)

Earl Wesley Bascom (1906-1995)
'Spurring High, Wide and Handsome'
inscribed '1971 ©/EARL W. BASCOM 10-40' and inscribed with artist's skull device (along the edge of the base)
bronze with brown patina
19 in. (48.3 cm.) high with a 2 in. (5.1 cm.) high wooden base

By descent in the family of the artist to the present owner.

The horse in the present work is branded with the "C Cross" ranch brand that was owned by the millionaire rancher and rodeo producer Ray Knight. Earl Bascom was a professional bareback rider performing on the rodeo circuits for some twenty-five years and rode many of Knight's famous broncos during that time. The artist is also known in rodeo history for designing and producing rodeo's first one-hand rigging back in 1924, making him known as the "Father of Modern-Day Rodeo Bareback Riding."