AUSTRALIAN HORN SCRIMSHAW

A pair of 19th century scrimshaw-decorated cow horns that went under the hammer at Charles Miller auctions in London. The catalogue description reads: "... incised overall with typical whaling scenes and banner script, a Masonic cartouche to one, the other with a patriotic shield entitled ADVANCE AUSTRALIA.

Bullock horn engraved with a scrimshaw technique. The black tip of the horn has been cut off and carved to form a mouthpiece, while the cream body of the horn is engraved and is finished at the end with a carved zig zag edge and a carved decorative band in a diamond pattern. The images on the horn include a sun with a human face and six six-pointed stars; various flowers and plants including the English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock, Australian banksia, Australian flannel flower, ears of wheat, a grapevine and a fruit tree; various insects and beetles, including a mosquito and a millipede; an emu; a pair of snakes entwined round a tree; a three masted sailing ship and fish; a lizard; a swallow; an image of an English cottage with rooster, pond, picket fence and tree; part of the badge of the 39th Regiment, representing the Fortress of Gibraltar and its key, within two swords and a musket; a smoker's pipe; and a crown within a laurel wreath. The top of the horn bears 'J.BALL 39th Rt' on a ribbon scroll. The bottom of the horn bears 'R.HASLAM 39TH Regt' within a decorative rectangle surmounted by a pocket watch set at nine o'clock. A brown cotton cord is tied to the narrow end of the horn and to a hole cut through the lower edge beneath the image of the millipede. Click here to go to source

Pair of scrimshaw cow horns carved with various portraits & horses. 19th century. Australia Approx. 37 cm each