Item Description
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This lovely Scrimshaw powder horn looks to have been signed by its maker, William Emberly, who served aboard the ships Syren & Poole around 1839 as is carved below his name. There is a provenance note stuck to the horn which states this horn was carried by “Grand Papp” Billy Em- Twice around Cape Horn, meaning Emberly took at least two long journeys around the southern tip of South America. The horn is carved with several depictions of ships, houses, animals, and plants.
The horn is absent its wooden plug in base (wide end) but is a delight just the way it is. There is still the original ring for the strap at the wooden base, next to the flint pocket. Something we’ve only seen once before, this soldier carved a slit in the wooden base for placement and storage of flints for his musket. A very ingenious design element. The horn measures roughly 11½” long.
We have found mention of the ship Poole in an 1833 newspaper, arriving in Fanny, Lockyer, Newfoundland. Poole was most likely a merchant ship of the period. We have also found mention of the Syren which appears to have been a French ship which is named in parentheses (the Rear Admiral’s vessel).
This is a phenomenal scrimshawed powder horn with tons of research potential. The note of provenance just adds so much more character as well. Truly one of the prettiest horns we have offered. Comes ready for further research and display.
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