ENGRAVED POWDER HORN OF ASA SPALDING, 1757, FORT NO. 4.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/29/2021

This well documented French and Indian War powder horn is featured on pages 104-105 of "Drums A'beating, Trumpets Sounding: Artistically Carved Powder Horns in the Provincial Manner" by William H. Guthman. Guthman attributes the horn to the "Lake George School" of engravers and to the Selkrig-Page Carver. The horn is also featured on pages 56-57 of "Folk Art in Early America: The Engraved Powder Horn" by Jim Dresslar. The Fort at Number 4 was a mid-18th century stockade fortification protecting Plantation Number 4, the northernmost British settlement along the Connecticut River in the Province of New Hampshire until after the French and Indian War. It was located in the present day town of Charlestown, New Hampshire. The horn measures 14-1/2" overall and is inscribed "Asa Spalding's Horn No. 4 1757/In Billiards and snuff while Beaus take delight/With Powder and Ball how the brave Heros fight". In a different hand are the inscriptions "JDF" and "JD FRASHR". Asa Spaulding served as chaplain in Colonel Phineas Lyman's Connecticut Regiment, May until November, 1757. He was also the chaplain at Fort No. 4 during the 1758 Campaign. The horn is also engraved with the British Coat of Arms, garter, stylized flowers and trees and vines around the plug. There are ducks flying over each side of the coat of arms and two arrows follow the duck on the left. There is also a hunter shooting at a buck in the woods being chased by two hounds. There are six soldiers, all firing, three on each side of the poem with a sea monster in the center. At the top of the engraved portion, there is a scalloped edge then a round section followed by a relief ring and the rounded spout with flared tip. The original pressure fit wooden plug is convex. CONDITION: Retains a pleasing honey patina and shows some scattered marks and carry wear. The "5" in date shows signs of being defaced during period. At bottom edge, there is one small area of insect damage. Spout section shows some damage and holes. A very rare and important Fort No. 4 French and Indian War powder horn. DMG