Engraved New South Wales cow horn powder flask. Australian, 19th century.

An exceptionally engraved New South Wales cow horn powder flask.

Australian, first half of the 19th century.

Measures 49cm wide , the widest section of the horn measures 8.7cm across.

The body of the horn is engraved with native Australian flora and fauna, a coat of arms, a ship, a church, a lighthouse, a trumpeting angel, the sun, the moon, a clock, two profiles of soldiers and the words ‘New South Wales’.

A remarkably similar example probably by the same hand can be found in the collection of the Australian War Memorial, Accession Number: REL35798 - Scrimshaw technique powder horn : Privates R Haslam and J Ball, 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL35798

An extraordinary piece of early Australian history.