Description
sz32 Curious George of Aspen - Sterling Snakes and skulls belt buckle set. Belt<br>and buckle in good condition, belt fits a 31" - 34.5" waist. If the belt doesn't<br>fit the buckle is worth way more than I'm asking for the combo and will easily<br>go on another 1" belt.<br>Belt is 1" wide.<br><br>Curious George is George Lapin, a gentleman of prodigious curiosity indeed<br>judging from his very intriguing store on the Aspen promenade. Your first clue<br>that his heart belongs to the old west is his slick handlebar mustache, ala<br>Wyatt Earp. Originally from New York City, Lapin ventured to Aspen about 25<br>years ago to see a friend and promptly fell in love with the place and all<br>things western. The results of his passion are displayed in this huge and<br>amazing store-museum. The place bulges with fascinating memorabilia like antique<br>rifles and pistols, swords, sheriff’s badges, a Cisco Kid poster, silver boxes,<br>vintage decks of cards and poker chip caddies. There’s a sumptuous circa 1929<br>black tooled-leather saddle dripping with ornate silver inlay and conchas for<br>just $32,500.<br><br>Everything has a story. Hanging on the wall is a rifle belonging to Chief Ouray,<br>presented to him in 1880 by Otto Mears, the great railroad builder of Colorado.<br>The rifle was something of a thank-you gift to the chief for helping to staunch<br>the Meeker Massacre some years before. Indian agent Meeker, in a rush of<br>enthusiasm for turning the natives into farmers, had plowed under the<br>horse-racing track which they dearly loved. Miffed, they slaughtered the man and<br>his family. Still, it could have been much worse had not Chief Ouray alerted the<br>9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers who rode to the rescue, a bit late for the Meekers.<br><br>Another page of history for sale is the rough leather “possibles bag” of Sioux<br>Chief Red Rainbow, a survivor of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The bag<br>contains his colt .44 revolver which may have been raised against the ill-fated<br>Custer in the famous 1876 fight, as well as the chief’s deck of cards which<br>inexplicably have no spots<br><br>Curious George also carries tiny antique s which shoot real s, splendid old<br>Indian pawn jewelry, new and used cowboy boots, leather vests and jackets, and<br>an entire wall of belts and cases of silver belt buckles – choose a snarling<br>bear, a shrieking eagle, a lizard or turtle – in designs plain or fancy. Bill<br>Clinton, yes, in the flesh, dropped in and scooped up a whole passel of the<br>shop’s stunning contemporary turquoise and silver jewelry last summer. Nobody<br>had the nerve to ask him who would be the lucky giftee, reports George, not<br>quite curious enough this time.<br><br>George’s place has just about anything that could strike your fancy, except<br>maybe a vintage double holster, leather masterfully carved in extravagant<br>florals, with the big initials HRH on the back. Not long ago, Prince Andrew, of<br>the British Royals, stopped by and eyed the piece. When he asked the price,<br>George explained that he was waiting for some high roller to come by with those<br>initials, so he could really stick it to him. Prince Andrew, who happens to have<br>a brother who may well see those letters in front of his name in the future,<br>snickered and doled out the requisite cash. Don’t ask.<br><br>anderas
