The use of a horn for the sharing and consumption of drink has become synonymous with the Vikings. The use of various animal horns as feasting equipment is an ancient idea, having been used since at least the first domestication of horned cattle and goats.
While the horns themselves often decay to nothing over time, there are several archaeological finds of the precious metal bands that would have lipped particularly large or valuable sharing horns from 'Dark Age' Europe. Alongside this, enough pictorial examples have been found to say with some certainty that they were a very commonplace item.
Drinking horns would have either been used solely by one person or as a 'friendship' or sharing cup to be passed around the guests so that they could share the best alcohol. Traditionally these horns had no stand and were shared until empty, making them a perfect piece to add flair to any gathering. The addition of a metal stand in these items is a very useful addition, and is purely for modern practicality.
The naturally hollow nature of cow horn also makes them perfect for the making of sounding horns or trumpets prior to the use of metal musical instruments. These are made by carefully cutting a mouthpiece to the end of the horn, sometimes affixing a wax seal to make playing easier.
We aim to produce unique pieces that are practical for the living history context, as well as great talking points for everyday use.
These drinking & sounding horns are available in a range of sizes from 100ml to a massive 3 litres and are priced between £10 and £80.
Stands cost between £15 and £30 each.
Overly large sharing horns or customised horns with the addition of cast metal horn 'ends' are also available upon request.
Present Past strives to produce high quality historical inspirations and reproductions, meticulously researched and with the highest standards of customer care.
***All of our horn products are handmade from natural materials, primarily sourced from Northern European and British cows. Horn is a very resilient material, but should be treated with care. Wash with warm water and a little soap immediately after use, but take care not to soak or expose to harsh chemicals. Drinking horns and cups can be used with alcohol and soft drinks, but avoid leaving carbonated or high acidity fruit juices for extended periods of time. Do not use with hot drinks***
The following pages act as the online portfolio of our past and present work, many of which are often made time and time again due to popularity. To find out more about each of our items and enquire as to customisation and timescales, then just get in touch via the 'Contact Us' page.
To place an order simply send us an email with your requirements. Once we have your final order we will send you an email 'Paypal' invoice. Transactions can also take place via our Etsy shop upon request.
You can also view our Etsy shop to see all of our current 'in stock' items or to view more of our previous work.
To find out more about what makes our products unique and more about Present Past then simply see 'Our Philosophy' and 'Who we are' pages.
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