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Snuff Horn belonging to James Bowman

Key details

Object number
3.5503
Date
1836
On display
No

Description

Snuff Horn. The horn is curved with a silver mount with the following inscription 'The horn which belonged to the late James Bowman the last person married in Alloway Kirk'.

A hinged horn lid with silver circle with a foliate design on top. The circle inscribed 'A. Cowan Ayr 1836'.

From the 17th to early 20th century snuff, a form of ground tobacco, was commonly used in Scotland.

People carried small snuff boxes, but such was demand for snuff, larger vessels called snuff mulls were manufactured for use in the home. These were often made from rams' horns as this material kept the snuff dry. They were often decorative pieces made to place on a table to impress guests.

Object information

Category

Material

Measurements

  • Depth: 3.3(cm)
  • Height: 7(cm)
  • Width: 7.5(cm)

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