1868 Native American Horn
I have no provenance or documentation to prove what I am about to tell you about this horn. I recently acquired this horn at auction, where it had been listed as a "reenactor's horn," but something about this horn was speaking to me, so I told the risk.
When I took possession of this diminutive horn, I immediately examined it under magnification. There was no sign of artificial patina, In addition, the visible wear, scaling, and aging of the wood suggested this horn was not a reproduction from the 70's, but instead it was older. Rather than being 50 years old, it felt much closer to 150 years old.
As I researched features on the horn, I learned a few things that I had never heard before. 1868 was a significant year for Native American tribes of the Great Plains. Four major treaties were signed: the Treaty of Fort Laramie (Sioux and Arapaho), the Treaty of Fort Bridger (Shashone and Bannock), the Treaty of the Crow (Navaho), and the Treaty of Bosque Redondo (Navaho). In addition, I learned a bit about the other symbols on the horn, i.e., the Thunderbird, tomahawk, and teepee. Not all Great Plains tribes revere all three of these symbols, but for the Sioux and Arapaho people, the Thunderbird represented a Supreme Protector spirit. Similarly, the tomahawk represented protection and bravery, The Teepee represented strength through community and the family unit.
My curiosity and suspicions grew. I shared the horn with a number of members of the Honorable Company of Horners -- that's the North American Horn Guild (an organization that I am most pleased to be a part of). One particular person I spoke to is a Master Collector. Out of respect for him, I won't reveal his name here. He has owned more horns than I could dream of, and consequently is truly an expert in the field. I handed him the horn and shared the above information. As he examined it, I said that I didn't know for sure if it was 50 years old or 150. Without hesitation, he said this horn was certainly older than younger and that everything about it made sense.
Can the provenance of this horn be proven? Probably not, but it is nonetheless intriguing. This small high-relief horn measures a mere 5.5" across and 8" along the curve. The hand-carved oval base plug measures just over 2" at its widest point.
Caring for your powder horn.
Horn items are susceptible to moth and beetle damage. The best thing you can do to avoid this damage is simply to fill it with black powder and use it. If you plan to store your horn, you might be tempted to put it in a box and tuck it away on the top shelf next to the extra towels in the second bedroom where it's good and dry. Giving in to this temptation, may not be a sin, but it's pretty close. You'll be storing up your treasure where moth doth corrupt. You see, worms prefer to dine in the darkness. Instead, when you ain't using it, hang it up on display and let it shine for everyone to see. But be forewarned: they will be bound to ask, "where did you get that powder horn?" And you can say, "from K. Carter, hornsmith, at KC-Hornworks.com."
One last thing: It's always kinda nice to give your powder horn a name. It's just one more way of showing your horn that you really do care.
Shipping Blurb
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