"Engraved Powder Horns from the French and Indian War and the American Revolution: The William H. Guthman Collection"

Extended through December 31, 2008

This exhibition displays the recently acquired collection of seventy-five authentic American powder horns created between 1747-1781.  The finest assemblage of this indigenous and truly unique colonial American art form, the William H. Guthman Collection of individually crafted powder horns will complement Historic Deerfield’s existing compilation of artifacts relating to the French and Indian Wars and the American Revolution.

“This is the largest single acquisition of important artifacts by the museum in 50 years,” says Philip Zea, President of Historic Deerfield. “It renews our commitment to secure significant, documented objects of national importance and exhibit them for the American public.” The powder horns were made between 1747 and 1781 along the frontier of northern New England, New York, and the St. Lawrence Valley. Colonial militiamen, who often could not afford to own a cartridge box like the English and French regulars, carried their gunpowder in a hollow cow’s horn, plugged at both ends.

A highlight of the Guthman Collection is the horn of Israel Putnam.  He commanded the Connecticut patriots at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and is memorialized for his service by a statue in Bushnell Park across from the state capitol in Hartford.  His horn, created almost 20 years before that famous fight, not only identifies him as a Captain in the famous Roger’s Rangers along with the location and date but also includes “a plan of the Stations / From Albony to /Lake George/ The River, The Road.”  This inclusion of a map and/or architectural drawings of forts and other features is a rare feature that firmly places these horns in context.