Author Topic: Strange horn question?  (Read 2373 times)

Offline Jerry V Lape

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Strange horn question?
« on: August 01, 2011, 05:37:48 PM »
Saw a horn this weekend which has me puzzled.   It was approx 16" long, had a base covered with silver instead of a base plug.  The silver cover was hinged so approx 3/4 of the cover opened to reveal a compartment approx 1 1/2" deep to an internal wooden plug.  The spout end was metal and shaped a lot like a trumpet mouth peice but without anyway to open it or blow through it.  There wasn't any decoration aside from the metal ends.  It had two swivel rings attached to which a strap could have been fastened.  It didn't appear to me as an ancient antique, but certainly not a recent product.  My initial thoughts are this is just a curiosity someone put together for display, but that is hard to justify the silver metal on each end?  Anyone have additional ideas of what this might be?  It was marked by the seller as a snuff horn, but why would you carry a half yard of horn to hold a couple ounces of snuff in the base? 

Offline mr. no gold

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Re: Strange horn question?
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2011, 10:36:24 PM »
Sounds European, to me. They would embellish horns for drinking, to hang on the wall, for hiding/storing small items, and probably as calling horns. They were once to be found in antique shops but haven't seen one in many years. They are interesting, and may also have served for trophy use, or for commemorating some event. They can be quite elaborate, especially the drinking horns.
Dick

Trekker1

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Re: Strange horn question?
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2011, 10:47:42 AM »
By the descrition, it could be an artillary horn... But then again...