Antique Hunting Pouch

Here's a hunting pouch that I have hung onto for almost 30 years. I found it nailed to the wall of a friend's barn. It was originally found in a log barn in Southern Indiana in the 1960's...I talked the farmer out of it.

What I like so much about this little pouch is it's stark simplicity. No more humble shot bag was ever carried.

It's approx. 6.5" x 7". made from very thin (2oz.) bark tanned deer hide and it was made without flap. Indian pouches were made without flaps...perhaps a cross cultural influence?

Copy and photo supplied by Steven Lalioff.

George Schreyer "Rattlesnake" Golden Age Rifle

This spectacular rifle has a 47 " full oct unsigned .49 cal smooth bore bbl. The rifle is 62-1/2" overall and the butt of the rifle is a full 1-3/4" thick at the butt plate. This grand Kentucky rifle was featured as rifle No. 8 in Dr. George Shumway’s book “George Schreyer Sr. & Jr. – Gunmakers of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania”. In the book Shumway writes: “This piece is notable for the patch box finial engraved with a rattlesnake design, and although the bbl is unsigned, there can be no doubt that it was made by George Schreyer Sr. Most Schreyer guns are equipped with German locks, but this one has a lock of English style with rounded pan”. “The left side of the stock is nicely carved with relief designs and incised volutes. The top of the wrist does not have Schreyer’s usual fleur-de-lis design, but instead has a lobate design in relief”. As evident by its accompanying framed receipt, this rifle is from the famed Kindig collection. This orig document made out to Earl F. Lanning, Waynesville, N.C. and dated 1963 reads: “One fine early George Schroyer flint lock rifle with his fine typical relief carving and the earliest rattlesnake patch box that I have ever seen. I would have loved to have had this in the book but only bought it about 6 months ago from Wes White...Joe Kindig Jr". As noted in the receipt, the Rattlesnake Schreyer was purchased from Kindig by noted Kentucky rifle authority and collector, Earl Lanning for the tidy sum of $1100. A recent letter reminiscing his long ago experience of purchasing and owning this Kentucky accompanies the rifle. In the early 1970’s Mr. Lanning sold the rifle and it became the prized possession of Mr. Everett “Bernie” Partridge who kept it until his death in 2008. A true work of art, in 1979 the rifle was recognized and awarded “Best Relief Carved Rifle” by the Kentucky Rifle Association. The silver award medal accompanies the rifle. PROVENANCE: Wes White; Joe Kindig, Jr.; Earl Lanning; Everett "Bernie" Partridge. CONDITION: Very fine. The last 12" of the fore stock has been properly restored with the forward thimble and nosecap appearing to be original to the rifle. There is a 3-1/2" wood repair above the front of the lock and it appears there has been a minor wood repair below the lock and a diagonal crack repair 3" from front of side plate screw to bbl. All repairs are sound. The flintlock is a reconversion to flint. None of this detracts from the importance and beauty of this classic example.

Copy and photos supplied by James D. Julia, Inc. This item will be in  their March 12 & 13, 2012 auction.

Shawn Webster and H. David Wright Collaborate For A Worthy Cause

Sometimes when we ask ourselves why we consent to doing volunteer fund raising projects; when all is done, you have your answer.  As artists, we are frequently asked to create works for worthy projects and sometimes we ask others to donate to our causes. This is the way these things are accomplished and the end results most always benefit a good cause. Recently, I was asked to create a work for a fund raising auction, which offered me a chance to step outside my normal medium and to sculpt in three dimensions –a new medium for me.

The Project:

Brenda Golden (wife of Oak Ridge Boy, William Lee Golden) is chairman for a Celebrity Fund Raising Auction for the Joseph and Stephaine Walker Foundation which provides college scholarships to young people with financial needs. Fine organization, good cause.  For this year’s fund raiser, many celebrities (and then there are others, like me)  have been asked to decorate a “Fabergé” egg – which will be auctioned on March 17 at the “TEA TIME” fund raising benefit.

Would I decorate a Faberge egg for it?  My answer, without hesitation, “Sure, Brenda, send it over” (she’s a good friend). I have had experience at decorating eggs for fund raisers since I did one for the annual “White House Easter Egg Roll” back in the early ‘80s.  Back then I was told that after being displayed at the White House my egg would ultimately reside in the Smithsonian Institution (I’m sure it is -  buried somewhere way down in the bowels of the Smithsonian with hundreds, by now, maybe thousands of other eggs). But, after painting a landscape of the Teton Mountains on a 3” White House Easter Egg more than 30 years ago, I figured today I could handle one more egg for a good cause.

The egg arrived, and is 9” tall hollow ceramic with a hole in it. What do you do with an ceramic egg with a hole in it?  Everyone else will be painting theirs, some using sequins, beads, gem stones, etc, on their eggs, which will all turn out very nice I’m sure. We’ve got to be creative here… What to do? A call to ceramic artist friend, Lisa Crews introduced me to a special clay to work for my sculpt and I was off. (Maybe that is not the proper term…)

So -to make a long story short, I came up with an idea and coerced my friend Shawn Webster, who is a talented quillworking artist into “collaborating” with me (told Shawn I would try to get him a date with Carrie Underwood who is also doing an egg, which he liked - but I’m sure Carrie’s ice hockey husband will make mincemeat of Shawn if he even looks at her). As I knew he would, Shawn did a great job quilling the headband, making the head dress, also helping with design and fabricating the sculpture. The result  -  “Indian Egg Head”.  But since this title just didn’t quite project the dignity of the sculpt - to be a bit more refined, I asked friend Carolyn Foreman, who is knowledgeable about the Cherokee language for a name – and she did -  “DIDEYOHVSGI” which is Cherokee for "The Teacher".

More friends, silversmiths Wayne and Marilyn Holcombe from Brooklyn, Michigan specially made and generously donated all the trade silver for the project. Their touch added even more class to the sculpt.

So, with lots of help from good friends, and after much agonizing, teeth gnashing, and many days and nights of thinking, figuring, and work, it is finally done.  A worthy project for a worthy cause.  Now we all just hope some worthy person steps up and bids high for "The Teacher".  All for a good cause.   And everyone has been generous “good eggs” about it all.

I present “The Teacher”.

Copy and photos supplied by David Wright.

Iron Mounted Virginia Rifle by Steve Losey

Photos supplied by Steve Losey.

Pipe Ax by Rich McDonald

Photos supplied by Rich McDonald.

Hunting Pouch by Eric Fleisher

Photos supplied by Eric Fleisher.

Early Virginia Rifle by Lowell Haarer

This .50 caliber Early Virginia rifle has a Rice 42 inch swamped barrel and a Chamber Deluxe Siler lock.  The Virginia style buttplate and triggerguard are castings, but the patchbox, toeplate, sideplate and rod pipes are all handmade.  The pewter muzzlecap was formed in place.  The metal engraving was done by hand with hammer and graver.  The silver wire sets off the forearm with a nice touch.  The silver wire cross sets off the pierced heart in the patchbox and also makes a statement of faith in Christ.  The wood carving was done in a mixture of raised and incised carving.

This gun was made for our son's father-in-law.  He is tickled pink.  He said it is way more than he could envision it being. 

As I began to walk away, Lowell said, "I like all my rifles but somehow this rifle and I have a kindred spirit."  That kind of says it all for this rifle.

Photos by Lowell Haarer with copy by Mim and Lowell Haarer.

Steve Lodding Axe

Photos supplied by Steve Lodding.