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Lot 169

Stephen Hastings' Carved Powder Horn
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, dated November 14, 1754

18 November 2022, 10:00 EST
Skinner Marlborough, Massachusetts

US$7,000 - US$10,000

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Stephen Hastings' Carved Powder Horn
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, dated November 14, 1754

The large amber colored horn inscribed "SHREWSBURY NOUMBER 14 1754/STEPHEN HASTINGS HIS HORN" in double line block lettering with diagonal shading, the words divide by diamond devices, decorated with a serpent coiled around a tall pole, fish, dogs, horses (one with rider), a man on a small ship, a man hunting deer, a pinwheel device, and an elaborate field of foliate scrolls, slightly convex pine base secured to the horn by seven wood pins, the lack of evidence of any type of suspension device in the base combined with a slight projection beyond the edge of the horn over the wood base suggests that the horn originally had a horn lobe on which to fasten a suspension cord, the spout of the horn has simple ring collar below the tip.
Overall lg. 16, dia. of base 3 1/2 in.

Footnotes

Provenance
By family descent from Stephen Hastings.

Note
This powder horn bears close similarity to the Levi Whitney, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, January 14, 1750, powder horn illustrated and describe in William Guthman, Drums A'beating, Trumpets Sounding, Artistically Carved Powder Horns in the Provincial Manner 1746-1781, (Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1993), pp. 82-84. Like the Whitney horn, Stephen Hasting's powder horn also exhibits the serpent motif described as the "Brazen Serpent," being a Biblical term from John 3:14-15 symbolizing the redemption of Christ. The similarity in style of lettering, and decoration between the two horns is unmistakable and are clearly the work of the same unidentified carver.

Stephen Hastings is documented as a Corporal in a Company of Foot commanded by Captain Jabez Beamen, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, on a roll dated April 7, 1757 (Massachusetts Archives Collection, Vol. 95, p. 255). It is interesting to note that the clerk of that company is a man named Jotham Bush. The famed African American carver John Bush who was himself a militia company clerk, was also from Shrewsbury and it is tempting to speculate that Jotham and John may have been related.

Additional information

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