December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
A fine example of a War of 1812 military drum by Abner Stevens, a noted Massachusetts drum maker whose establishment was originally in Hancock, but relocated to Pittsfield in 1809. This rope-tension field drum, approximately 15 1/2-16 in. H x 16 in. diameter, has a cylindrical shell or body formed of oak, with sheepskin heads and original, red-painted rims of hickory wood attached with hempen cord and adjusting tabs of leather (a few now missing). The face of the shell is painted with an American eagle with red/white/blue shield of the United States at its breast, above a scroll bearing the motto: "EPLURIBU UNUM" and below it, the date "1812" in white letters. Opposite this side of the drum is a vent hole surrounded by a painted, star shape in red/white/blue. If one views into the drum from this hole, the remnants of the original maker's label by Stevens can be seen, which is the paper label he used only through 1813, thereby proving that this is indeed a war-dated drum, rather than a later drum for a unit originally raised at that time. Its dimensions and method of construction closely match the specifications given in a wartime contract between the US Army and Stevens.