Powder Horn, 1775
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Powder horns carried gunpowder for muzzle-loading guns. The hollowed-out horn kept the contents dry and was easy to decorate with simple tools. Andrew Clark, a skilled artist from the Kennebec River Valley in present-day Maine, elaborately engraved this powder horn for Elisha Gathel (actually Gatchel) in 1775. This horn is similar to other highly detailed ones made by Clark.
Powder horns carried gunpowder for muzzle-loading guns. The hollowed-out horn kept the contents dry and was easy to decorate with simple tools. Andrew Clark, a skilled artist from the Kennebec River Valley in present-day Maine, elaborately engraved this powder horn for Elisha Gathel (actually Gatchel) in 1775. This horn is similar to other highly detailed ones made by Clark.
Artifact
Powder horn
Date Made
19 December 1775
Subject Date
19 December 1775
Creators
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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