Civil War Era, Cow Horn Drinking Cup, Hand Turned

Antiques : Primitives

 

This type of cup made from the horn of a cow was frequently made and used by the soldiers that fought the American Revolutionary War. The field service soldiers also made their own powder horns and other utilitarian items from the horns of cows. The horn cup or beaker was also widely made and used by the soldiers of the Civil War.

Between the mid 1700's to the mid 1800's many such horn cups were made by Mountain Men, Native Americans and also just the common man living on the edge of colonized America.

I can't say what hand made this cup but the color is mellow and it looks to be well used so it could date from the earliest common time that these cups were in use.

This horn cup is 2 5/8" tall and 1 3/4" at the lip while it tapers to 1 3/4" at the foot. The bottom of the cup seems to be turned from horn also and it is somewhat translucent.

A great bit of American history....

Item ID: 1248