should post mermaid horn here

[rich pierce]

I have been working on a horn inspired by an original from 1757, I call, "The Ugly Mermaid Horn". This one is other-handed, a mirror if you will, and is not intended to be a close copy. While fitting the plug I split the big end, and employed a period repair of a sheet brass patch affixed with brads and pitch. It holds well. I aged it with boiled onion skins and some soot.

Here is a drawing of the original that inspired it. The drawing was made by my great uncle, Robert M. Hartley, in the 1930's. His drawings are at the Margaret Reeney Library in St. Johnsville, NY, in the Mohawk Valley. Most of the horns he catalogued were New York state horns from the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War periods.

 

[laffingman67]

Bravo! :thumbsup: Very nicely done.

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Nice horn Rich. I like the color that the ageing did on it. Did you mix the soot into the boiled onion skins, or use the soot to darken the scrimshaw?
Scott

 

[rich pierce]

I used the soot to darken the scrimshaw and make the natural cracks in the horn stand out more. Rub it in, rub it off till a clean hankerchief won't smudge.

 

[Harddog]

Nice work Rich. The horn looks just like an 18th century folk art horn should look. The repair adds a bit of authenticity to the horn and points out the frugality of our forefathers. The repair adds a little more charm to an already very nice horn.

Now, if I remember right, don't you have a couple of more cow horns that need to be made into powder horns.

Randy Hedden

 

[rich pierce]

Thanks, Randy, I do have to get back to work!

 

[renovato]

Nice job. The aging came out really well.