Horn work

Horn has been used from the earliest times as a tool or made into essential utensils like spoons, combs and beakers. Its malleability when heated has made it an easy and useful material to make a wide selection of items from, while its range of colours has proved desirable for many decorative uses. In the 18th & 19th centuries the Ayrshire village of Kilmaurs was renowned for its horn cutlery industry.
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Since prehistoric times man has used horn, antler and bone implements as tools, household objects, jewellery and weapons. A little later horn from livestock was being heated and moulded. This versatile material could also be cut into such thin pieces that they could become almost transparent and be used almost like glass.


In south west Scotland, much horn work was originally undertaken by travelling folk or 'tinkers'. Later master horners set themselves up with small businesses within all the major towns. 

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David Marshall - manufacturer of horn goods.
Kilmaurs, although quite a small place, was renowned both locally and further afield for many niche
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Horn Work Tools
These tools used in the production of horn goods such as spoons and knife handles were commonly used
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Horn Spoons and Spoon Moulds
These spoons are displayed alongside moulds used to make them. The horn (usually from cows or oxen)
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Horn Cups
Oxhorn beakers such as this came in a variety of attractive natural colours and were cheaper than on
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Horn Ladel
Ladels and scoops were made from heated cowhorn pressed in moulds in the same way as spoons.  This o
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Horn Spoons
As well as knife handles horn was used to make spoons. These are made from cowhorn which was heated
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