Horns done!

Finished! ...at last...almost. All bands fitted, glued and rivetted in place...straps done... the plates on the straps are cast panels based on the sutton hoo find...I've cleaned out the horns, but they still need a lining...beeswax option number one: authentic, organic, pleasant...drawbacks, not so durable...foodsafe resin option number two...durable, scrubable, low maitenance, but it is plastic resin.

 It is a good idea to line them, there should be no leaks, except perhaps around the rim, which the lining will seal, but the cow horn is a good breeding ground for bacteria...my preference, I think is for the beeswax...can't be used for hot liquids, true, but these are unlikely to be coffee cups...also, it's nice to leave enough wax to fill up the bottom 4-5 inches of the horn...the toughest area to clean, and, also, a problem when drinking...there is this air bubble thing that happens when drinking from a horn this large (and helical) where when you tip back, an air bubble forms in the tip, and then as you drink, breaks, sending a sudden surge of beverage over your face...careful and experienced manipulation of the horn ( sort of a twisting motion as you tip back) can minimize this tendency, but it's not foolproof...fool and the draining of beer from a Texas longhorn being a short step!

Well, pretty much on the last stretch here...I've assembled and fixed in place the tip components...the three etched and formed bands, joined by rivets, and the cast terminal, now set with carnelians...the two bands as well, up in the middle of the horns...all is glued and either rivetted or nailed in place. Still have to fix in place the rim itself...the pieces are done, but I'm waiting on a delivery for a particular type of wire...the "van dykes" for the rim are all done, repoussed and chased...there's this one, and also an Odin with braided beard...pretty close to finish...tho still need to make the straps! I've already cast several panels for them, need a few more.