Powder Horn
Unknown Artist
ca. 1760
Medium
Horn
Dimensions
L. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm); Diam. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); Wt. 13.7 oz. (388.4 g)
Classification
Firearms Accessories-Powder Horns
Culture
Canadian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.158
Art Historical Context
This elegant powder horn, crafted around 1760 by an unknown Canadian artist, exemplifies the practical artistry of colonial North America. Fashioned from a single animal horn—likely bovine—the slender vessel measures 14¾ inches long with a 3¼-inch diameter, weighing just 13.7, making it lightweight and portable for its essential role: storing black powder for muzzle-loading firearms. Its smooth, curved form, polished to a subtle sheen, highlights the natural material's durability and water resistance, ideal for the rugged demands of frontier life. In the mid-18th century, Canada was a contest...