Literature Notes

• Church, Sir Arthur H., et al. Some Minor Arts, as Practiced in England. New York: MacMillan and Co., 1894.
  This 19th century work contains a brief discussion of English work in "Impressed Horn" and tortoiseshell, or horn which, having been softened, is placed in a mold and then shaped to whatever design is intended. There is further discussion comparing the 19th century process with the 18th, as well as with Japanese and Chinese horn work.
  The Impression processes mentioned are:
  1. Placing the horn, already in the press, into boiling water to soften the horn, and when it is soft, tightening the press.
  2. Softening the horn first and then quickly placing it into the press. This, however, is less likely to give a sharp impression.
  References:
• "Brewster's "Edinburgh Encyclopedia" (1830)"
• "Pour mouler des tabatieres ou des boites d'ecaille ou de corne", given in Chapter XL., Vol. III, of 'Secrets concernant les Arts et Metiers', Paris, 1790".
• Crowell, Ivan H. Horn Craft. This Pamphlet contains a discussion of the use of horn among the North American Indians; distinguishing between horn and antler; cutting and sawing, molding (or moulding), and turning on a lathe. >
• D'Amato, Janet. Who's a horn? What's an antler? : crafts of bone and horn. New York : J. Messner, c1982.
  This small booklet is really intended as a guide for children's crafts. With regards to horn, it discusses a general history of horn use among tribal peoples. It discusses cleaning, cutting and shaping the horn, decorating and finishing, glues, sustitutes for bone and horn, and a variety of small projects for people to make.
  The processes mentioned are:
  1. Wet horn is easier to work than dry horn.
  2. Boil for at least 2 hours, then file clean.
  3. To flatten, boil for at least two hours, then clamp between two boards.
• Glenn, George. "Making Camp Gear", The Book of Buckskinning II, ed. William Scurlock (Rebel Press/Muzzleloader) Texarkana, TX, 1983 (pp. 189-236).
  An interesting little article on making things for historical re-enactment. It discusses salt horns, horn cups, horn spoons, powder horns, and so on
  The processes mentioned are:
  1. Using dry heat to soften horn.
• Hardwick, P. Discovering Horn. Guilford: Lutterworth, 1981.
  This is a beautiful book that discusses the horner's art. It covers horn in history, the craft of the horner, types of horn, drinking horns, sounding horns, horn artefacts, staining dying and polishing of horns, and the restoration and care of horns.
  Some References:
  • Bickerton, L.M., 'The Horner's Craft", Country Life 1973, (1627-8)
  • Book of English trades and Library of useful arets. London, 1824.
  • Diderot. Encylcopedie, 1763.
• Hughes, G. Bernard, Living crafts. Freeport, N.Y.,: Books for Libraries Press, 1971, c1954
  This is a chapter from a book that discusses various crafts that seemed to be in decline when the work was written, such as Horner, Goldbeater, charcoalburner, and so on. The chapter is a history of the craft, and so does not focus as intently on processes as one might like, but it does cover a few of these as well.
  The processes mentioned are:
  1. Leaving the horns to lie in stock water for 1-3 months.
  2. Cutting is done by drawing the horn back and forth across the saw.
  3. Boil in copper kettles.
  4. After softening by boiling, split lengthwise with a curved bladed knife, pull open by broad bladed tongs, possibly flatten by trampling. Originally, the horn was flattened by placing the horn under a large heavy rock.
  5. Later, the sheets were placed between iron plates covered with tallow, set vertically in a hole in the ground.
  6. By the 1740s, the box-presser was developed, which used heated greased iron plates, interleaved with strips of heated horn. And pressed by a screw.
  7. Wrinkles and surface flaws are cut from the flattened horn with a small bill hook and spoke shave.
• Taylor, Wilmot. The Sheffield horn industry. Sheffield, [England]: J.W. Northend, 1927.
  This small book is a history, and as such does not focus too deeply on process and methods, but there are sufficent references to make it worth your while to explore.
  The processes mentioned are:
  1. Hollow roots are compressed into cylinders for use by horn turners into making tips, inkhorns, crutch stickheads, and handles.
  2. Haft and Scale Pressing.
  3. Making Buttons and Combs.
  4. Lantern glazing.
• Borglund, Erland, and Jacob Flauensgaard. Working in plastic, bone, amber and horn. [Ed. Clara Fried Zwiebel] New York, : Reinhold Book Corp., [1968]
  This is an interesting craft book for adults, with a variety of simple projects. Specifically regarding horn it discusses preparation, heating, pressing, finishing, polishing, and so on.
  The processes mentioned are:
  1. Look for flaws, clean the core & inner membrane by boiling.
  2. Soften via dry heat (propane torch, bunsen burner, etc). Brush with "waterglass" (fireproofing sodium silicate) & let dry.
  3. Make a spoon mold by hollowing out one side of the mold, then filling the hollow with tin, and attach that to the upper side.

Using and working with Horn - Literature Notes. Copyright © 1996, 2001 I. Marc Carlson
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