I've collected powder horns for over 40 years now, and most of the glass horns I've seen have been fakes or reproductions, take your pick on how you want to describe it. The brown glass horn at the top of this thread may be original, but I would like to see the provenance on it, since it is very similar in color and shape to reproduction glass horns that have shown up from time to time for 25+ years or more. If a glass horn is shaped too much like a real cow horn, I am always suspicious. I own a brown glass horn that's almost identical to the illustrated horn, which I thought was authentic years ago, but after comments from experts in old glass, I'm worried about it now. If real, perhaps the lateness of the Ellensville, NY glass horns caused them to be heavier and shaped more like real powder horns than the earlier, authentic glass horns.
I have one good glass horn, hand blown, almost clear, somewhat more delicate than the heavier brown glass horn, that has passed muster, and while it does look generally like a horn, no real horn ever had its spout shape. There is at least one [and perhaps more] early painting of an 18th century New England gentlemen hunter with a glass horn...which also appeared to be more delicate than the heavy brown glass horn. Hope someone can find a researched article on the Ellenville glass factory that reportedly made the brown horns. It would be great reading.
Shelby Gallien
