October 25th Auction at Cowan's: Part 3

Revolutionary War Era Wooden Canteen

With handmade chain and wood plug. 17 staves with one stamped 53. Encompassed by two iron hoops. 5.25" height and 10.5" diameter.

1761 Powder Horn from Crown Point by Joseph Loomis

14.75" length. Engraved by a private soldier with images of objects of concern to him including three quaint little mermaids holding mirrors, a scale (justice), two serpents (devils), each with forked tongue, sugar tongs (for making rum punch), a sloop, a human-faced bird with elaborate head plumage, a perturbed caterpillar, a Masonic key, a smoking pipe and a fishing lure. Engrailed edge with smooth spout. In a later hand the date 1812 is repeated faintly three times. Wood base.

Joseph Loomis was from Windsor, Connecticut and was a private in Lyman's 1st Connecticut regiment during Abercromby's disastrous attack on Ticonderoga in 1758 and rejoined in 1761. Amherst used Crown Point as his forward base for the assault on Montreal and the conquest of New France (which he garrisoned with American provincial troops including Loomis). New Englanders commemorated the fall of Crown Point on horns of the French & Indian War period because from its earliest construction in the 1720's, it had been the advanced French base from which Indian raids terrorized frontier New England.

Condition: Wood base has been replaced. Horn has a nice dirty untouched patina. Minor loss on rim of horn

New England "Buck and Ball" Flintlock Fowler with Cloud Sideplate

ca late 18th century. .63 caliber, 42" round-to-octagonal barrel. The octagonal part of the barrel has ornate scrolling with traces of gold leaf. Lockplate and hammer with scrollwork as well. The underside of the buttstock has the initials GW. This firearm displays French characteristics such as a "cloud"-shaped sideplate, an asymmetrical buttplate tang, and deep scroll engraving on the octagonal breech. English characteristics include the style of the trigger guard and the straight buttstock. This gun was likely made for an English trader whose customers expected French styling. Such a market was created by the English conquest of New France in the French and Indian War.

Copy and Images from Cowan's Auctions.