Federal Fire Society Paint-decorated Leather Fire Bucket

Description:

Federal Fire Society Paint-decorated Leather Fire Bucket, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, c. 1793, the front of the firebucket painted with "No./1." over a reserve with angelic figure above the inscriptions "Jofeph Haven/ 1793", "Federal F.S.," and flickering flames, the back painted with red, yellow, and black stripes, (handle probably replaced, paint wear),ht. to top of collar 12 1/2 in.

Literature: See Federal Fire Society of Portsmouth New Hampshire, published by the same in 1905. Joseph Haven is listed as one of the founding members of the Federal Fire Society, which was first organized March 6, 1789. In the "Biographical Notes" section on p. 20, Joseph Haven is listed as a merchant and lived "on Pleasant Street in the three-storied house, corner of Richmond Street, which he built in 1790. He died July 14, 1829, aged seventy-two years."
Estimate $800-1,200

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