Item Description
Original Item: One of a Kind. Just come to light from an old Estate Collection, this is a wonderful Soldier’s engraved Cow Horn Powder Flask, most likely originally belonging to a Red Coat, who dated it 1759 near the bottom. However it looks like eventually it ended up in the hands of a "son of Liberty" for the Revolutionary war. A truly lovely display piece with loads of history!
The horn bears lots of engraving, clearly done over a long period of time, perhaps 20 plus years. This starts with the British marking of HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE, in a circle around the horn. This is a phrase from Anglo-Norman which means to "shamed be whoever thinks ill of it”. This is usually translated as "shame on anyone who thinks evil of it" or "Evil to him who Evil thinks". This is the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter, the highest of all British knighthoods, except in Scotland. It is also featured in the Coats of Arms of a multitude of Royal Regiments.
Near the bottom of the horn, there is a snake going about halfway around the horn, and there is a deer just under the 1759 date. There is also a "SUN FACE'' in the center of a directional Compass showing N, S, E and W, with a “star” to the Northeast. Below this is a soldier on horseback brandishing a sword, and to the left a soldier on foot holding a musket. This soldier however is clearly wearing a “Mitre Cap”, the usual headgear of mid 18th century British Grenadier Units.
The final addition to this powder horn was almost certainly the "U.S." Federal style Eagle, holding Arrows and laurel branches. which must be a Colonial addition made any time up until 1800.
So many of these Horns are totally FAKED and even those that are often considered original are often questioned. This horn however come out of the woodwork so to speak, and has every chance of being a genuine British Soldier's horn of the French and Indian Wars and subsequently was owned by a Revolutionary War Patriot who added the U.S. EAGLE.
A charming and fresh to the Collecting Market very old Cow horn powder horn. Measuring over 15" from nose to base this may well have been used for Cannon Priming Powder. Ideal for further research!
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