"Engraved powder horn sea monster- the real deal. Location of origin unknown, but belonged to a Daniel Callender in 1783. Almost certainly created within the continental U.S., East of the Mississippi River. From the book "The Engraved Powder Horn" by Jim Dresslar, 1996. For prespective, Mosasaurs discovered 1770, Ichthyosaurs in 1811, Plesiosaurs in 1821 and Basilosaurus in 1832." [Scott Mardis]
[Classical age mosaic for "Jonah and the Whale"(?) above]
"This [Powder Horn engraving] is incidentally a design of Classical origin reproduced during the Cassical revival which eventually went all the wa ino Neoclassicism. The original design for this is Ancient Greek-BUT any Indian East of the Mississippi would ave recognised it instantly as a representation of The Great Horned Serpent. This is actually very good and done in a naiive style that is similar to some skrimshaw work. The "X-Ray" showing of the heart IS an Indian element which goes back to Rock Art and the creature would ordinarily have two forefins at about the level of the heart." [Reply by Dale Drinnon to Scott's post on Facebook]
Scott Mardis subsequently added this pasteup of his own:
