Lot 655

Description

Australian colonial scrimshaw bullock horn, 1832, engraved with a central motive of snakes entwined around an olive tree within a garter inscribed 'NEW SOUTH WALES 1832', above an Irish harp surmounted by a crown, other depictions of various flora and fauna including a Scottish thistle and English rose and the Fortress of Gibraltar, all of which are links to the 39th (Dorcestshire) Regiment of Foot which was stationed in Australia from 1826 to 1832, other items are a sailing ship and elephant possibly to indicate the units upcoming posting to India upon arrival of the 4th Foot to replace them in NSW; the wide bottom edge of the horn features a 'saw-tooth' pattern, which is almost identical to a similar horn held in the Australian War Memorial collection (No.REL35798), and the horn bears the name J Baley below the elephant. Some teeth missing from end 'saw-tooth' area and a few chips missing near edge, otherwise very fine and a rare piece of Australian colonial history.