Powder flask of horn, flat curved shape, carved all over with floral patterns, with decorative pewter mounting around the nozzle.

Collection type: Object
Description: Powder flask of horn, flat curved shape, carved all over with floral patterns, with decorative pewter mounting around the nozzle.
Geographical reference: Ghana
Africa > Western Africa > Ghana
Person: Maker Unknown Maker; Field collector Unknown Collector; PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection
Date / Period: Date made: 1630-1874
Date collected: Prior to 1874
Acquisition information: Donated: 1884
Materials and processes: Material Animal Horn, Material Wood Plant, Material Iron Metal, Process Carved, Process Bound
Dimensions: Length: max 255 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1884.28.3 PR Cat other PR nos: ?1206
Research and responses: Please note that the decoration on the horn seems much more European in style than African. [MdeA 13/08/2008]
Following research visit by Martin Hinchcliffe, formerly conservator at the National Army Museum, and Steve Thompson, a scrimshaw artist, in October 2009, the consensus was that this horn featured both Dutch and African elements in its tulip and figurative decoration, respectively. Since the original accession information suggests Africa as an origin, the Dutch Gold Coast (1598-1871), now Ghana, may be a likely place of origin. [HA 28/10/09]