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480

Engraved Powder Horn, undated, circa 1750’s-1770’s. There are some two dozen known examples of this

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Engraved Powder Horn, undated, circa 1750’s-1770’s. There are some two dozen known examples of this
All items are as is, no warranty or claims and All SALES ARE FINAL. Please examine prior to bidding as it is the bidder's responsibilty to establish condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factors.
Engraved Powder Horn, undated, circa 1750’s-1770’s. There are some two dozen known examples of this unidentified engraver’s work to whom the cataloger years ago had given the title, “The Folky Artist”. And yes, the cataloger is aware that Mr. Webster does not at all recognize the word “folky”. Most often his horns carry no legends or dates. His subjects consist of very large buildings, England’s Great Seal or elements of it, a very large moth, the familiar hunter and his hound pursuing a deer, a sun-in-splendor with a comical human face, and feather-like trees to name but a few. This is not to say that all of these subjects appear on any single work but each has some of them as well as other motifs. The work is very naïve in nature, the facial features of both the human and animal figures as well as those of celestial bodies are generally whimsical. The subject horn has two very large buildings or a series of buildings, one along its lower border, the other along its upper, midway between these are two rectangular enclosures each with a series of small houses, or possibly barracks. The upper enclosure is shown with three cannon mounted in a bastion. To the left of the large, upper building there appears a crowned lion and beneath him a three masted ship. Additionally, there is a comical sun-in-splendor and one of this artisan’s “feathery” trees. The earliest dated horn – dated in the hand of its maker- which the cataloger has examined carried the date of “1756”. This was formerly in the notable collection of author George C. Neumann and now reposing in the federal museum at Valley Forge National P{ark, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; 13” overall on the outside curve excluding the original hardwood buttplug, 2-5/8” diameter. The plug is high domed and incised with a series of concentric circles, the original, iron strap staple remains intact. The dyed-yellow color has a nice patination with an area of darkening which is smooth and without the least bit of roughage. There is a 2” area of tight and very old fine line cracking which runs along the rim of the base, to the immediate left of this old 1-1/4” crack extending upward. Neither of these are really offensive and are common occurrences especially in that area, they do not impair any engraving. The neck, 5-1/4” has a single stout ring, the spout was apparently once wrapped with cord to secure four fine line cracks which extend downward each about ¾”. Description by Walter O’ Connor. Est.: $3,000-$6,000.
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