Powder Horn, 1775
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Powder horns carried gunpowder for muzzle-loading guns. Horn was easy to decorate with simple tools. Some were decorated professionally, others by their owners. This powder horn was elaborately decorated by its owner, Elisha Gathel of Vassalborough, Maine. Horn decoration could be useful, such as maps, while other horn decoration was fanciful, such as Gathel's mildly ribald verse and drawings.
Powder horns carried gunpowder for muzzle-loading guns. Horn was easy to decorate with simple tools. Some were decorated professionally, others by their owners. This powder horn was elaborately decorated by its owner, Elisha Gathel of Vassalborough, Maine. Horn decoration could be useful, such as maps, while other horn decoration was fanciful, such as Gathel's mildly ribald verse and drawings.
Artifact
Powder horn
Date Made
19 December 1775
Subject Date
19 December 1775
On Exhibit
at Henry Ford Museum in Guns
Object ID
59.58.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Horn (Animal material)
Technique
Engraving (Action)
Incising
Dimensions
Length: 12.5 in
Diameter: 2.625 in
Diameter: 0.75 in
Inscriptions
Large end: ELISHA / GATHEL OF VASALBOURGH / HIS HORN / MADE DE 19, / 1775 Near small end: A KNIGHT DELIGHTS, IN HARDY DEEDS / OF ARMS / PERHAPS A LADY IN SWEET MUSIC CHARMS / RICH MEN LOVE WEALTH YET EVER SORDID BE: / INFANTS LOVE DANDLING ON THEIR MOTHERS KNEE/ COY MAIDS LOVE SOMETHING NOTHING I EXPRESS/ KEEP THE FIRST LETTERS OF THESE LINES AND GUE/SS.
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