Author Topic: Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt  (Read 1520 times)

Offline Mule Brain

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Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt
« on: February 12, 2024, 06:20:27 PM »
I spied this horn in a glass case at an antique dealer. He stated the horn is well documented, and not for sale.
I asked him if I could take pictures of it, and here ya go.   

   














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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2024, 06:33:00 PM »
Never trust an antique dealer lol. Did you ask him to see the documentation?
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline Mule Brain

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Re: Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2024, 07:07:19 PM »
He didn't have time as he was packing up for a show.

I am an antique dealer  lol   
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Offline TDM

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Re: Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2024, 09:12:03 PM »
Certainly looks old enough. Be interesting to see the extent of the documentation when the dealer has a chance.

Offline Mule Brain

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Re: Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2024, 03:41:26 PM »
When I get a chance I will give him a call to see what he can tell me
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Offline Tanselman

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Re: Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2024, 09:03:43 PM »
In my experience with "named" horns, particularly more common horns, somewhere in the recent past an owner has checked military records, found a closely matching name, gathered information on that person from the internet, and assembled a "provenance" for the horn.

The major flaw in this approach is that there is no direct connection between the name on the horn, and the similar name in old records. In truth, there are usually other individuals with similar names living at about the same time that could have been the owner, but usually the one with the most historic interest, i.e., military service, is presumed to be the owner and selected for the "provenance." There is always a chance they got the right person, but there's a better chance they did not due to their biased selection process. No "provenance" is really a provenance unless there is documentation that traces/links the horn back to its original owner, making a real connection. A lot of today's provenances are more wishful thinking than established fact, yet they are presented to potential buyers as "fact" while omitting the "minor" detail that there is no documented connection to the presumed original owner.

Shelby Gallien 
« Last Edit: February 13, 2024, 09:12:04 PM by Tanselman »

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Revolutionary Era Powder Horn John Pitt
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2024, 03:15:55 PM »
He didn't have time as he was packing up for a show.

I am an antique dealer  lol

Apologies for my jaded viewpoint. I would not see this horn as Rev War era based on the form or engraving.
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.