Help with a leaky horn

[Wildgoose]

Afternoon,

No, not age related nor do I need to see my GP…

On a recent trip to Africa I bought a horn beaker from a market stall. The bottom is plugged with a smaller bit of horn but there is a small gap and it’s leaking.

Can another recommend how to seal it? Ideally I’d bee sealing the whole bottom of the beaker as it’s quite rustic in its finish.

I have wood varnish and might have some beeswax somewhere, as well as gorilla glue.

Any advice appreciated

WG

 

[Tengu]

How is it fitted in? Plugged in?

Or fitted in a groove?

If the latter I would try heating it very gently, -try putting very hot (but not boiling) water in it.

this will soften the horn and with a little manipulation will set it into place.

If just plugged in I would use epoxy adhesive.

A horn receptacle is not good for hot liquids, I hope you havent used it for those.

Tengu the Horn expert.

 

[Wildgoose]

Thank you, it’s a crude plug.

Epoxy adhesive is a good idea

The horn is reserved for ale, mead or wine so nothing hot

 

[Kadushu]

My horn mug has a wooden base and is sealed with epoxy, not as a repair but as its original construction.

 

[Wildgoose]

I did consider this as an option as the original is so roughy finished.

If I can get a nice bit of wood I might look at this option again

 

[Tengu]

Thought so.

The old beakers had a base fitted in a groove in the bottom; the horn would be heated so the base fitted in, then would shrink fit. (Some bases are glass)

Modern beakers are not as well made.

Epoxy will do the trick.

 

[John Fenna]

For a more "bushy" fix - a mix of pine resin, beeswax and charcoal glue.
Great for heat free adhesion and filler.

 

[Tengu]

But, that is black and not clear.

Wont match the horn

(Unless it is buffalo or bison, of course)

 

[Wildgoose]

The horn is quite dark, I’ll try to get a pic up tomorrow

 

[Tengu]

Thought you might like to see a couple of my beakers



These are a good big pair; I think they are of matching horns.

The horn is beautifully marked; you dont often see ones like this. Hornworkers call it feathering.

The bases are of glass, cut to fit in a groove, as I said the horn would be heated to softness, and they would be pushed in.

There is a tale of a hornworker who would shape the cups and bases skillfully, but he never liked to put in the bases, and so amassed a pile of unfinished beakers. When that happened the manager used to switch off his machinery until the beakers were complete!

I dont normally get beakers as I have plenty (same as spoons) but I could not resist this pair.