ENGRAVED POWDER HORN; French & Indian War Dated 1757

This horn measures 12" around the outside curve and 9 1/4" across with a 2 1/2" diameter butt plug and has a desirable cream/golden body color with a black stained two stage throat with an engrailed edge, typical of 18th century horns. The body is fully engraved with one and two dimensional "C" and "S" rococo scroll work, the owners name, date, a formally dressed dancing couple, a four line poem, including a winged face incorporating the first letter of the owners last name.

The finely designed and executed engraving on this horn includes the historic owners name Lt.Colonel "William Haviland his horn made at fort No 4 Nov. 10TH 1757 and 18th century attired dancing couple, and the poem: "A man of words and    not of deeds is like a Garden full of weeds" The letters and numbers are embellished with human faces which are incorporated in the design of the letters and numbers. The engraver was influened by John Bush who was captured at the surrender of Ft Wm Henry April 9, 1757. William Guthman in his excellent book "Drums Abeating...." Pg 103-109, attributed horns No. 19, 21, 23, 24, and 26 , the owners of which were all Rangers assigned to units at either Fort Edward or No. 4) to an unknown carver. Subsequent private research by Lee Larkin presents strong evidence that the unknown carver was Samuel Lounsbury and/or Nathaniel Sielkrig (See Grinslade's "POWDER HORNS..." Pg 24 for an excellent discussion of Larkin's work.  Lt. Colonel William Haviland commanded the 27th Regt. of British regulars as well as the Ranger units assigned to Ft Edward and Ft. No. 4. (See Guthman Pg 103 for a discussion of Haviland).

REFERENCES: 1).  "Drums Abeating Trumpets Sounding" by Wm. Guthman Pg 103-109;  2).  "POWDER HORNS Documents of History" by Tom Grinslade Pg. 24;  and  3). "The Engraved Powder Horn" by Jim Dresslar and David Wesbrook.