kanemono Posted September 28, 2015 #1 Posted September 28, 2015 Benjamin Woollard was a member of Captain Robert Patterson’s Company, Second Regiment of Foot of the Pennsylvania Militia located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Militia was under the overall command of Lieutenant Colonel John Keller and was in active service in the summer and fall of 1781. Private Woollard is listed in the in the Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783 located in the Pennsylvania State Archives. The powder horn is 11 ½” long and measures 3” at its widest point. The horn is named “Benjamin Woollard’s Powder Horn 1799”and depicts “Liberty Tower,” “The Fiery Dragon of Egypt,” “St George,” and “Wild Man of Oramutang,” an American eagle with “Pluribus Unum,” and what seems to be the New Jersey State, Coat of Arms. Also depicted is a horseman, dogs, rabbits, foxes, birds a bear and a devil. This powder horn is mentioned in American Engraved Powder Horns: A Study Based on the J. H. Grenville Gilbert Collection by Stephen V. Grancsay, Curator of Arms and Armor, published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1945. The horn was in the collection of John G. Laidacker of Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania. Laidacker had a collection of over fifteen hundred Kentucky rifles which was considered to be the “largest and most representative in the world.”(Magazine of Antique Firearms, July 5, 1911). Click picture for larger image. Dick
scottiques Posted September 28, 2015 #4 Posted September 28, 2015 Amazing! Beautiful workmanship and incredible condition. Did you have the stand made? It really adds to the display impact. Scott
kanemono Posted September 28, 2015 Author #5 Posted September 28, 2015 Thanks Robert, Scott, the stand was made by John S. Laidacker the grandson of John G. Laidacker. John S. was also a major collector and dealer of antiques and firearms. He also wrote several books on firearms. Dick
BagmanL6 Posted September 28, 2015 #6 Posted September 28, 2015 Wow. Truly a work of art. I apologize for showing my ignorance on this topic but is this something he would have carried with him in battle or on the hunt later in life? Or was it more of a "decorative or show" piece. Thanks.
kanemono Posted September 28, 2015 Author #7 Posted September 28, 2015 My guess is that the powder horn would have been used for hunting. Dick
BagmanL6 Posted September 28, 2015 #8 Posted September 28, 2015 That's even more amazing. The time and skill to do all that to an item in daily use. Thanks.
scottiques Posted September 29, 2015 #10 Posted September 29, 2015 Just saw the dating of 1799, so it was done post Rev- war? Even so, I would suspect it saw regular use for hunting and wasn't just a decorative piece. Scott
doyler Posted September 29, 2015 #11 Posted September 29, 2015 Amazing piece of history,folk art and craftmanship.People will go a life time with out seeing an item of suck quality and importance. Thanks for posting.
hawk3370 Posted October 21, 2015 #12 Posted October 21, 2015 Absolutely magnificent. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I doubt any of us will ever see anything like this again. Your method of displaying it does it honor.
sundance Posted October 21, 2015 #13 Posted October 21, 2015 That is one amazing horn.That stand is a work of art also (I probably couldn't afford the stand, much less the horn).
Brig Posted November 8, 2015 #15 Posted November 8, 2015 Beautiful work on the horn I wonder if those rifles are wall mounted in the photo, or if he is sitting/laying on the floor
2Dogs Posted June 11, 2017 #17 Posted June 11, 2017 Sorry to be late to the party. That is one beautiful horn. I am a hornsmith. As a hobby, I make the powder horns, Mugs, cups, candle boxes. The old ones are truley works of art. The "Line Engraving" is very nice. Powder horns were a very personal item, most were ingraved by the owner, and sometimes used to ID the body after a battle.
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