A FOLK ART cow horn, dated 1800, a very rare and unusual  SCRIMSHAW. Depicting a firework display, a fish kissing a turtle, two fish kissing each other. A very early steam train with carriages, a big tower decorated with many flags, with G R inscribed in the carving, a crowned king with sceptre, standing. 10 inches in height/length. Two assassination attempts were made on George III on 15th May 1800. George III survived the two assassination attempts in London on 16th May 15th, one in Hyde Park the other at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

This scrimshaw celebrates the survival of George III from the two attempts on his life in 1800 It is probably by an ex sailor, on what looks like a Highland Cattle horn.   He has depicted all the wondrous things he can think of, including the survival of the king from , not one but two murderous attempts on his life.

A firework display, an enormous tower decorated all over with flags, two enormous fish kissing, a fish kissing a turtle.   A vision of a Steam train pulling four carriages, perhaps the equivalent then of a rocket going to the moon.  In fact, Richard Trevithick in 1801 had made the debut of the first passenger carrying steam hauled vehicle on a road outside Redruth, Cornwall.

All of this encapsulated on a Scrimshaw horn by an artist struck by the wonder of it all, expressing his joy by the only means at his disposal. Probably by a sailor, hence the fish and the turtle connection. Nothing more wonderful  than a magnificent firework display?  What more wondrous than a fish kissing a turtle? or two fish kissing?  Or the the king with fireworks emanating from his crowned head, and he holding  holding a sceptre.

An important and very rare document in scrimshaw by a probably illiterate but very imaginative and artistic seaman.    All news in the early 1800s was normally by flyers or hearsay.

Price £875 trade.