A 19TH CENTURY SCRIMSHAW HORN POWDER FLASK

A 19TH CENTURY SCRIMSHAW HORN POWDER FLASK, possibly associated with Henry Ward of the 28th Regiment, the piece is extensively engraved with remarkable detail. It features a view of a castle alongside a double-domed cathedral, the three-masted sailing ship The Asia, and the patriotic motto "Advance Australia," accompanied by a kangaroo and an emu. Other motifs include fish, a full-length soldier, a mermaid, the inscription Van Demo, and XI Reg J Murphy. A verse is also engraved:

"Some praise the costly cups of gold and hold them most divine, But give to me the horn of old when filled with grog or wine."

The “28th” refers to the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot, a unit distinguished for its service in the Napoleonic and Peninsular Wars. In later years, the regiment was stationed in Australia as garrison troops, leaving behind artefacts such as this that reflect both military heritage and colonial connections.

34.5cm long