For centuries, bone, cow and ram horn, boar tusks and deer antlers have been used for making tools and other implements.
Ancient Roman horn clasp knives have been found in England and Chaucer wrote about a 'Thwytel', or knife in the 14th century, which was probably hafted in horn or bone.
From the start, horn cutlery makers obtained their materials from local 'Knackers Yards', slaughter men and / or when cattle were 'de-horned'.
A major trade in stag antlers also flourished between gamekeepers and wardens in England and Scotland, although the main supplies came from London auction houses.
The Victorians substantially improved the quality of horn cutlery and began to sell their products in cutlery boxes and cutlery gift sets.
The finest horn cutlery was beautifully crafted in polished steel with silver plated ferrules and handle caps. So, horn cutlery became very popular, particularly in England, for all types of cutlery.
Deer horn has always been popular in the cutlery industry, because it has a fine, contrasting appearance and a visually appealing, wire-like texture. Early supplies of deer horn in England and Scotland mainly came from local deer parks.
Unfortunately, fashions changed and in the late 1920's prices for stag horn and bone rose sharply and it became extremely difficult to sell horn cutlery at that time, except in small quantities.
All the major manufacturers started using synthetic materials, like plastic, celluloid, rubber and metal alloys, in place of horn, because they were more readily available and a lot cheaper.
However, the stag horn cutlery and bone cutlery industries never completely disappeared and survived by catering for more discerning tastes.
However, in recent times the use of horn, bone, tusk and antlers in cutlery, particularly in England and Scotland has revived.
More and more people are looking for premium quality cutlery products that are different and more refined, even though the slightly higher prices may be a 'bone of contention'!
For information about Polmac (UK) Ltd single and 2-tier cutlery boxes, including horn cutlery sets, please CLICK HERE
Ancient Roman horn clasp knives have been found in England and Chaucer wrote about a 'Thwytel', or knife in the 14th century, which was probably hafted in horn or bone.
Stag Antlers Lock in Battle
From the start, horn cutlery makers obtained their materials from local 'Knackers Yards', slaughter men and / or when cattle were 'de-horned'.
A major trade in stag antlers also flourished between gamekeepers and wardens in England and Scotland, although the main supplies came from London auction houses.
The Victorians substantially improved the quality of horn cutlery and began to sell their products in cutlery boxes and cutlery gift sets.
Polmac Abbeyhorn Cutlery Set
Deer horn has always been popular in the cutlery industry, because it has a fine, contrasting appearance and a visually appealing, wire-like texture. Early supplies of deer horn in England and Scotland mainly came from local deer parks.
Unfortunately, fashions changed and in the late 1920's prices for stag horn and bone rose sharply and it became extremely difficult to sell horn cutlery at that time, except in small quantities.
All the major manufacturers started using synthetic materials, like plastic, celluloid, rubber and metal alloys, in place of horn, because they were more readily available and a lot cheaper.
However, the stag horn cutlery and bone cutlery industries never completely disappeared and survived by catering for more discerning tastes.
However, in recent times the use of horn, bone, tusk and antlers in cutlery, particularly in England and Scotland has revived.
More and more people are looking for premium quality cutlery products that are different and more refined, even though the slightly higher prices may be a 'bone of contention'!
For information about Polmac (UK) Ltd single and 2-tier cutlery boxes, including horn cutlery sets, please CLICK HERE
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