Paint-decorated Leather Fire Bucket

Description:

Paint-decorated Leather Fire Bucket, Charlestown, Massachusetts, c. 1820, painted black with red collar and handle, decorated with an oval reserve depicting a blazing sun around which is inscribed "No. 1/MARSHALL JOHNSON/1820" over a banner inscribed "Ancient Fire Society," with "Charlestown" inscribed on the reverse, (scattered paint losses),ht. to top of collar 12 7/8, ht. to top of upright handle 19 1/4 in.

Note: Two notes accompany the fire bucket. One is inscribed: "Painted by the gd'son of the owner of the firebucket Marshall Johnson..." The other note is inscribed: "Fire bucket- one of several hung in the store of Hiram Johnson on the corner of Washington and Union Park streets. Given to F.P. Phipps by his daughter Mrs. Cora Russell May 1923."

In the publication A Century of Town Life: A History of Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1775-1887, by James Hunnewell, Boston, 1888, Hunnewell writes: "The old Fire Societies were formed and maintained for the public or social good...There were three organised after the Revolution, the Phoenix (1795),the Washington (1800),and the Jefferson (1810). The oldest was, however, the Ancient, instituted Nov. 8, 1743, composed of householders acting for mutual protection or aid, and maintained until paid public companies took the place of such early and more restricted associations...Each member was obliged to keep two leather buckets, two bags (1 1/2 x 3/4 yd.) with his name on them, and a bed-key and, on notice of a fire must 'repair with his bucket, bags, and key, to the place where it happens' and 'use his best endeavors' to save the property of the members."
Estimate $1,000-1,500

The ht. to the top of the collar is 12 7/8 in.
No inpainting detected under blacklight, but although the paint and decoration on this bucket has been on there for some time some olive green paint shows under the top surface in areas where the paint has worn off.
The bottom of the bucket leather is in good stable condition and has been painted the same dark brown as the background color of the sides, but about 2/3 of the paint has worn off the bottom.
The leather is dry but not deteriorating.

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