May 18, 2021 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2021
"W.H. Snelling yoghsnekaron", "ONWENTSA", "HONI . SOIT . QUI . MAL V . PENSE . UNICORN / July . 29 . 1815". W.H. Snelling was an officer in the War of 1812-1814 in charge of military supplies. A large British Royal Crest is executed in very fine detail and encompasses most of the raised part of the horn. Below the crest "ONWENTSA" is engraved, which means "World on Earth" in Mohawk language. Yoghsnekaron is his Indian name. This attractive horn measures 11" in length. Very nice delicate scalloping at the end of the raised portion of the horn. The wooden plug is slightly beveled and attached with wooden pins. There is an old label with a numeral "4" showing that it was in the collection of Pioneer Arms collector, Charles Darwin Cook. Mr. Cook assembled his premier collection from the early 1900's into the 1930's. There is crazed black paint on the plug which extends onto the edge of the horn body and lobe for approximately 1/4". There is a leather strap remnant that is clogging the two lobe holes. A copy of the article by John Luke in Man At Arms magazine discussing these powder horns is included. CONDITION: Very good, as described. PROVENANCE: Ex Darwin Cook Collection; Ex Jim Dressler Collection; Ex John Luke Collection. REFERENCES: "Man at Arms" magazine, 2002, Volume 24 No.3, "From the Gunroom: More History on a Cow Horn, War of 1812-1814" by John O. Luke, page 45; "Man at Arms for the Gun and Sword Collector" magazine, 2006, Volume 28 No. 4, "Mystery on a Cow Horn" by John O. Luke, page 38. DRG