Object number
58/76
Description
This is a horn beaker for serving drink.
Physical description
1 beaker: horn; good condition
Label Text
Horn beaker. This is a horn beaker for serving drink. Horn was popular because it was a cheap, robust and easily available material. When horn is subjected to heat and pressure it becomes translucent or transparent - enabling objects to be made that were tactile, beautiful and versatile. In its simplest form, as with this beaker, horn would be used in the poorest households, but it could also be used to make elaborate and expensive luxury items incorporating silver or gold. The use of horn products has been in decline for 100 years, but some items are still made in the UK.
Archival history
MERL miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 3 October 2012 - According to detailed correspondence between the donor and the Museum, the donor purchased numerous objects which he then passed on to MERL. It is unclear whether the beaker was purchased by the donor in this way, but it had a '6d' label when it arrived at MERL.
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_2752.tif - High resolution image
