September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
This French and Indian War map horn is inscribed: "FORT CRAVEN"
"CATTOROGOVE"
"LAKE ONTARIO"
"OSAWGO".
The afor listed places are all prominently illustrated on this map horn of the Mowhawk Valley in Upstate New York. Two ships are depicted on Lake Ontario.
The butt is carved in concentric circles terminating in an integral knob at the center. A 3/4" scalloped brass band was used to repair the horn at the butt end during its period of use. There is high relief carved reverse fluting or tendrils located below the pair of rings at the spout. The spout is fitted with what appears to be a 1- 1/2 inch silver reinforced tip. This horn measures 14 inches overall.
This horn is pictured and described by Jay Hopkins on pages 28 and 29 in his book "Bone Tipped & Banded Horns". According to Hopkins, "this horn is carved with upstate New York details from the Mowhawk River Valley. It includes Fort Craven, which burned in 1756, thus dating the horn. There are other details of Fort Ontario, Lake Ontario, ships, gates and encampment grounds. The horn is probably of New England origin and it is by a talented, but unknown carver."
Condition: Good. Period repair to butt end, as described. Several nails are missing from the brass band.