Early American Interest: a rare silver-mounted drinking horn and whistle Unmarked, early 18th ce...

Early American Interest: a rare silver-mounted drinking horn and whistle Unmarked, early 18th century, probably British and believed to have belonged to Chief Justice Nicholas Trott of Carolina The horn incised with formal bands and applied with numbered silver straps, each engraved with the following mottos: 1. Bless our friend and forgive our Enemies 2. To Trade and Navigation 3. All we wish and all we want 4. The she that we love and the Friend we can trust 5. To all United Hearts 6. To all Honest men 7. Every one their own again 8. Happy to meet happy to part On the bands at the neck: 9. God send a Spedy Relief to all in distress 10. God mak a will as Sr. John Scott said to the King On the bands at the mouth: 11.More friends and Less need of them 12. Happy to meet happy to part. 13. To Peace and Good neighbourhood 14. To Church & Mother Trott Carolina, height 27cm. Footnotes: This horn was the subject of research by Philip Brooks of the Smithsonian Institution and Charles Lee of the South Carolina Archives in 1969 and 1970. Trott of Carolina referred to in one of the mottos may be Nicholas Trott of Carolina, (1663-1740). Charles Lee writes: 'I find it difficult to believe that the cup did not belong to our Chief Justice Nicholas Trott because of the words 'Trott Carolina' on the silver band near the whistle and because Nicholas Trott is the only person of any consequence by that surname in the early days of South Carolina history.' Trott arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1699 to become attorney general and naval officer in the colony. Over the next 20 years, he consolidated his power in the state despite much controversy and opposition. He also gained some notoriety while serving as the Vice Admiralty Judge during the 1718 trial of Captain Stede Bonnet and published a transcript titled The Tryals of Major Stede Bonnet and Other Pirates. This publication was used by many other judges and is considered to have helped shape the definition of piracy internationally in the twentieth century. After retiring from public life, Trott continued to publish legal and scholarly works and made important contributions to the legal development of South Carolina. It is important to note that Trott was British and born to a prosperous family in London, beginning his legal career at London's Inner Temple. This may explain why it is believed that the horn is of British origin, rather than American. The other person mentioned on the horn is most likely Sir John Scot, Lord Scotstarvit (1585-1670). Also an eminent juror and scholar, Scot was called to the bar in 1606 and was later knighted and made a privy councillor in 1622 by James VI, in whose honour he wrote a long poem. It is not known how the two men came to be connected; however, it is possible that the horn was used by the members of a society or club to whom they or their descendants belonged. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing