Anglo Saxon and Viking Drinking Horns

The Keeper of the mead

Came carrying out the carved flasks, 

And poured that bright sweetness. A poet

Sang, from time to time, in a clear

Pure voice.

BEOWULF: 493-497

There is nothing like drinking your ale or mead out of a period drinking vessel. I brew mead and these Anglo-Saxon style drinking horns have grown out of that love for mead. The items on this page are examples of one-of-a-kind, hand made drinking horns created by myself and Raymond the Quiet.  

 

These Anglo Saxon Drinking Horns, Viking Horns, Medieval Drinking Horns, and Celtic Drinking Horns are hand made by Sir Bohemond and Sir Raymond in the period way. Based on the guilt horns found at Taplow and Sutton Hoo that were made from the horn of extinct Auroch. These drinking horns are great for use in the SCA, renaissance fairs, living history groups, and historical reenactment from the dark ages and medieval times. They are especially fun with mead, beer, ale, and wine!

Taplow Horn with Vandyks

Original Taplow Horn

 

The Sutton Hoo great horn and the Taplow horn are not exact replicas. The Taplow is the perfect choice for a Viking horn. The Sutton Hoo is the perfect choice for an Anglo Saxon drinking horn. The art, design, and method of construction are period. The clips with the face design are all from Sutton Hoo. The width of the metal band on the Sutton Hoo is about 1 and 7/8 inches. The band on the Taplow is approximately 1 and 1/8 inches wide.

The right is based on a horn from the National Museum in Copenhagen, Arhos, and features birds of prey described as "sculptural animals developing into interlace' or a knot work pattern and is about 1 and 1/2 inches wide. (more info coming soon). The horn on the right is a Vendal period horn from the Upland dig in Soderby - Karl, Sweden, it also features "sculptural warriors developing into interlace" that look surprisingly like Celtic Mayan faces, but they are true Anglo Saxon type II artwork and measures approximately 1 and 5/8 inches wide.

Scandinavian Bird of Prey

\  Uppland Pattern

 

Below the Norman Flower is an excellent choice for a Medieval drinking horn and is approximately 1 and 1/8 inch wide. The Celtic Swirls and the Dog and Fowl designs make up the best choice for a Celtic drinking horn and is approximately 1 and 1/2 inches wide.

 

 Below is a Dragon pattern, SCA art, and measures approximately 1 and 3/4 inches wide.

Plain Drinking Horn

Celtic Dragon Drinking Horn

The Dog and Fowl horn is our most popular horn and features a hunting dog over a downed fowl and measures approximately 1 and 1/2 inches wide.

Viking Dog and Fowl Drinking Horn

 How Drinking Horns are Made

The metal work on the small drinking horns is sterling silver or brass. The design is embossed onto sheet metal and then shaped to the horn. The large and most elaborate horns are cast bronze or sterling silver. The metal is then riveted to the horn. The inside of the horn is then coated in bees wax. Cold beverages only! Hot drinks will melt the wax.  Most drinking horns come with Clips for face figures from Sutton Hoo.

How to Order a Horn

Small single beer sized horns start at $45.00 and are made of embossed metal. We always try to have several drinking horns in the $45.00 to $75.00 price range. Medium sized horns start at $75.00 and go to $95.00 also made of embossed metal and sizes vary. Large and very elaborate horns made of cast material can start at $250.00 and can go up.