September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
This Revolutionary War powder horn is inscribed: "CAP.t : DANIEL : ALLEN"
"LIBERTY : OR ~ DEATH 17__"
"KILL : OR * BE * KILD : ROXBURY"
"WAR".
The word "WAR" is engraved in the center of whimsical foliage. There are also several animals and a bearded man's face engraved between the panels of text.
It is fitted with a flat, wooden butt plug secured with five wooden pins. There is a carved scalloped edge that decorates the beginning of the darker, recessed portion of the horn. It has a border of half circles and dots which accentuate the scalloping. The decorative ring below the spout is scalloped on both sides. Overall, the horn measures 14".
Walter believed the engraver may have intended the owners to engrave their own names as the Allen horn appears to have had his name and rank put in by another period hand when he became Captain in January of 1776. It appears to be of the same hand as the horn shown on page 188 of Jim Johnston's " Accouterments II" were he states: "This Horn Was made At Cambridge" in "1776".
Included with this horn are four original pay orders to Captain Daniel Allen from the state of Connecticut. A copy of the Arms Gazette from February 1976 has a picture of Allen's musket inscribed "Lieut Danl Allen"
Condition: Very Good, as described. The horn was also slightly shortened during its period of use. There is a small notch and chip on the horn at the plug. Three half inch hairline cracks are present at the spout.