Carved and engraved horn

[mtgraver]

Hello friends,
This project has taken a bit of time to get completed in between other work. The cow horn started as a normal round horn that I flattened. The scenes are carved but most of the detail and all the shading was done with square and flat gravers. The German font came from the "Universal Penman" by George Bickham dating from the 1730's if memory serves. The verse is part of a Proverbs passage. The scrolls on the facets are relieved trying to be similar to some old horns of the mid 18th century. The dark brown color in the panels is attained by the use of litharge, an old process used to make faux tortoise shell. I consider these panels as a folk art story of the life of the hunter.
I hope you all enjoy it and any questions are welcome.

 

[Keith]

Mark Will you have this Saturday on Display. Beautiful!

 

[dogcatcher]

That is beautiful, I love it.

 

[Jared Eason]

Very nice my friend.

 

[mtgraver]

Keith, Yes, I should have it there to show if the client doesn't take it with him early for some reason.
Mark

 

[John P. Anderson]

Mark,

How do you heat the horns for shaping.

John

 

[mtgraver]

John,
On this horn I used hot air ...... no I didn't blow on it, hehe, a two stage strip gun on high setting. Keep in moving or it will burn. This took four or five heats to get the way I wanted. I was able to straighten the tip a little but still off a smidge. I use hot oil when I flatten horn plates, keeps the horn elastic longer. Boiling water is not a good way as so many people will say. The evaporation of the water is cooling much faster than the 300-325 degree oil.
Mark

 

[monk]

well, that's just a smackin dandy job you did on the horn. i really like each feature. i think the facets, as you call them, really makes this a great piece. and the "foldover" lugs you captured the end with-- cool ! were any of the old horns finished this way, or is this unique to you ??

 

[mtgraver]

Monk
I've seen a number of flat horns that have bands but didn't capture the horn cover. Most of the horn covered one I've seen were pinned in place with wood pins or iron nails. I never looked close enough on the brass banded ones but they could have been burnished over the edge.
Mark

 

[RDP]

Beautiful work Mark, and thank you for sharing the tips,

Richard.

 

[Willem Parel]

Fantastic horn Mark, the carving is beautiful and totaly in style.

 

[scott99]

Nice shooting gear,it will attract eyes on the range.

scott99

 

[thughes]

Mark, that is wonderful. I would love to watch your process of shaping a horn.

Todd

 

[Bama]

Thant is sweet Mark. Are you going to be a the Lake Cumberland show?

 

[santos]

Very nice Mark,
it seems have been carved in 19th century

 

[tkelch]

Looks good mark


Tom

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

looks really like an antique horn

arnaud

 

[Artemiss]

Very nice work, Mark!

Jo

 

[JJ Roberts]

Mark,Nice carving on the horn, I going to try to get up to Lewisburg. J.J.

 

[mtgraver]

Thank you for all the kind comments and likes.
No Jim, won't be heading to the show in Ky. just got back from the Lewisburg Pa. show, got too much stuff to get ready for a few shows in a couple of months.
Mark