October 30, 2019 The Collection of Steve & Marcy Hench
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2019
John George Hoff, Sr. was born in Germany in 1733 and his ship "Polly" landed in Philadelphia in 1765. He was a master clock maker and settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. John George Hoff also served in the Revolutionary War. His son, John Hoff was born in Lancaster in 1776 and died in Lancaster in 1818. Both John Hoff Sr. and Jr. were clockmakers and the younger was also a maker of surveying compasses. in 1803, he advertised that he "stocked an assortment of ironmongery, cutlery, and saddlery", he was commissioned a justice of the Peace for Lancaster County in 1809. In 1813, he held an appointment of commissioner to conduct a lottery for the paving of streets in Lancaster. He was elected cashier of the Farmer's Trust Company in 1815, and was an elder, secretary, and treasurer at Trinity Lutheran Church. A current street in Lancaster is named "John Hoff Place". One of his compasses is located in a museum in West Chester, and one in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He died of Typhoid fever at age 42 and is buried at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster. This diminutive powder horn measure about 5" in length and 6-1/2" including shield shaped finial on plug. The horn has a relief cone-shaped spout and the body is inscribed "JOHN / HOFF" with a large date of 1803. Also engraved on the horn are patriotic motifs such as crossed flags and pole arms with a shield in the center, and a cannon and cannonballs above a large "21". The other side of the horn shows a larger patriotic shield with four crossed American flags. The convex wooden butt is retained by a series of iron square headed pins and has an integral shield finial carved with stars and stripes. CONDITION: Body retains a mostly dark patina with a heavy coat of old lacquer. Shows some scattered insect damage and bubbling of finish. A couple small cracks at base. Plug very good with a dark patina. PROVENANCE: Purchased from Vernon Gunnion.