2018 CLA Live Auction: Cresswell Powder Horn by Lee Cooper

In 1775 a twenty-four year old Englishman found himself on the Colonial American frontier as the American Revolution was taking hold.  Nicholas Cresswell was low on cash and took employment with an Indian trader to recoup his fortunes.  He left us with a journal of his frontier adventures from Fort Pitt into the Indian Country and back.

Lee Cooper has produced this extraordinary horn in commemoration of Nicholas Cresswell and included a photocopy of Cresswell’s journal of his trading adventure.

This is a good sized horn, a little over 14 inches on the outside curve. A very fine horn, as we would expect from Lee Cooper, it has a great rendering of the Revolutionary War period version of the British coat of arms.  This polychrome example is as good as you will find on a horn.  The scrimshaw work on the horn is carefully done and very nicely laid out.  The horn has a hand worked tip and a great scalloped molding where it transitions from the dark tip to the lighter body.  The plain plug is secured to the horn with wooden pegs and has an iron staple for the strap.

This is an exceptional horn.  It would go well with the equally exceptional Djuana Tucker strap also available at this years auction. 

Lee Cooper is a repeat CLA Auction supporter and we are always proud to be able to offer his work.  Lee is not into email and social media.  You will have to get into contact with him the old fashioned way.

Lee Cooper  (740) 622-5993

The Contemporary Longrifle Foundation will have the Live Auction Fundraiser for the Contemporary Longrifle Association at the CLA Annual Meeting on Friday, August 17 in Lexington Kentucky.

The CLF live auction takes place at the annual meeting of the CLA in Lexington, Ky on August 17 this year.  The Auction will take place in the Convention Center Exhibit Hall at 5:00 PM.

The CLA meeting and exhibition is for members only, however, non-members have two options.  They may attend and join at the meeting for $20.00 for their first year (with certain restrictions). Non-members may also use the absentee bidding process described on the CLA web currently under the CLF 2017 Auction section.  You also may call the CLA office for details 540-886-6189

Be sure to visit the CLF 2018 Auction website going up n July 15 for extended descriptions of the items and more photographs of each item. 

Text by H Ahlers with photos by H Ahlers

2016 CLF Auction Item: Private Cleavland Horn by Lee Cooper

Scrimshawed powder horns served as useful maps and as journals for the early frontiersman. Dated map horns assist us in picturing a person, place, and time in history.

Lee Cooper created this Private Cleavland commemorative horn. This is a fine map horn that is inspired by Private William Cleavland who was killed at Fort Laurens in a British led attack by a large Indian force during the Revolutionary War.

Fort Laurens was built in late 1778, and attacked in February of 1779. The Fort was attacked by British Colonel Henry Bird of the 8th Regiment of foot with a mixed force of Wyandotts, Mingos, Delawares, and Munsees. The seige lasted over a month until relief arrived from Fort Pitt. Over twenty colonials died at Fort Laurens.

If you do not know where Fort Laurens was you should buy the horn. The construction and engraving on this horn is superior. It is good that Cooper has signed and dated this nicely aged horn avoid future confusion.

The Ohio Historical Society has a nice, though small, museum at the site, you can visit their webpage at https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/fort-laurens

Lee Cooper can be contacted by telephone at 740-622-5993.

Copy by Heinz Ahlers with photos supplied by CLF.