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Bone & Horn

Bone & Horn
Use & Maintenance
Bone and horn are natural, organic substances that have been used by humans across cultures for millennia. Handled with the correct care, they can retain their lustre and last a lifetime. When cleaning bone and horn items, gently hand wash with tepid water and mild soap, and carefully towel dry with a soft cloth. For items made of horn, occasionally wiping with vegetable oil on a lint free soft cloth in the grain's direction restores the horn’s natural beauty and maintains its longevity.
Our horn and bone kitchenware is designed for everyday use, however this natural material needs a little more care than modern plastics or ceramics. After use, remove food residue promptly, particularly acidic or strongly coloured foods, before hand washing using tepid water and a mild soap. Clean gently with a soft cloth or sponge and dry immediately with a clean towel. To ensure your item stays in good condition please avoid the use of dishwashers and microwaves, hot or boiling water, strong detergents, bleach or abrasive scourers. Please also avoid prolonged contact with acidic or salty foods such as vinegar, tomatoes and salad dressings, contact with sharp knives or utensils that may scratch the surface and leaving items submerged or soaking. Spoons, servers and other utensils should not be left sitting in food or liquid for longer than necessary. Clean them soon after use.
Horn combs are naturally smooth and kind to the hair, but the teeth are finer and more delicate than those of a plastic comb. Use your comb gently and avoid forcing the comb through tangled hair. Avoid bending or twisting the comb and keep fine-toothed combs in a protective case or somewhere they cannot be crushed.If cleaning is necessary, wipe with a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately — avoid soaking the comb or leaving it in water. To avoid degrading the natural material, keep it away from direct heat, radiators and prolonged sunlight. With care, the natural surface can be gently polished with a soft cloth to maintain its beautiful lustre.
Abbeyhorn shoehorns are made to be used, but horn and antler are natural materials and should not be subjected to excessive force. Use the shoehorn to guide the heel gently into the shoe. Avoid bending, twisting or forcing the shoehorn, or using it against very tight footwear where excessive pressure is required. To care for your shoehorn, wipe occasionally with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Dry immediately if it becomes wet. Long shoehorns should be stored where they cannot be knocked or bent. With regular use, the natural surface can be kept beautifully polished with a soft cloth.
Horn is a natural material and no two pieces are exactly alike. Variations in colour, grain, markings and texture are part of its character rather than imperfections. Over time, your horn or bone product may develop a deeper colour and natural patina. This is a normal part of ageing and is part of what makes a handmade piece uniquely yours. For horn products that have lost some of their lustre, apply a very small amount of vegetable oil to a soft cloth and gently rub in the direction of the grain. Buff afterwards with a soft, clean cloth.

Further Information

Natural Horn & Bone

Each piece has its own unique colour, grain and character, and with a little care it can be enjoyed for many years. Natural materials respond to their surroundings, so heat, prolonged moisture, harsh chemicals and sudden changes in temperature can cause damage. Bone or horn items should not be left soaking in water, especially hot or boiling water. Do not place items in a microwave or dishwasher and avoid chemicals or strong detergents. To prevent scratching, do not use abrasive cleaning materials, scrubbers, or contact with sharp utensils.

Patina

Over time, exposure to light, handling, and the environment can produce some darkening in bone, which can be considered a patina.

Further Reading

A bone folder with one rounded and one pointed end made of sterilised bone used by bookbinders and leatherworkers for creasing and over-turning paper, card, and finer grades of leather. Still cut, shaped, and polished by hand in Carnforth, Lancashire, site of the one remaining horn-works in Britain...
£10.00
Ex Tax:£8.33
A natural ox-horn comb  small (about 88mm) single broad toothed comb for pockets, wallets, handbags, purses, or travelling. Shaped, sawn, and polished to a glass like finish in Carnforth, Lancashire, the site of Britain's one remaining hornworks. The colours range from white, to translucent amb..
£12.50
Ex Tax:£10.42
A natural ox-horn 168mm dress comb, split evenly between fine and broader toothed sections for styling and detangling longer hair. Shaped, sawn, and polished to a glass like finish in Carnforth, Lancashire, the site of Britain's one remaining hornworks. The colours range from white, to translucent a..
£23.00
Ex Tax:£19.17
A round headed spoon with a longish fine handle, of a type traditionally used for the serving or yoghurt, pickles, or preserves, as it neither tarnishes nor taints these frequently acidic foods. Made from the horn of Nigerian long horned fulani cattle and hand cut, shaped, and polished in Carnforth,..
£13.00
Ex Tax:£10.83
Natural ox-horn dessert, breakfast, or child's spoons hand cut, formed, and polished in Carnforth, at the last remaining horn-works in Britain. The colours range from white, to translucent amber, through all the shades to black in natural tortoise-shell variations. Horn will not tarnish or taint..
£16.00
Ex Tax:£13.33
A hand made ox-horn honey dipper ideal for gathering and pouring the perfect drizzle of honey. Dip it into your honey pot, remove and twist to drip over your toast, porridge or ice cream. A type common before the advent of stainless steel,  horn does not tarnish like silver or carbon steel, or ..
£39.00
Ex Tax:£32.50
A natural ox-horn mustard dab for smearing the perfect amount of condiment onto your plate. A type common before the advent of stainless steel,  horn does not tarnish like silver or carbon steel, or taint the flavour of foodstuffs in which it stands. Made from the horn of Nigerian long horned F..
£8.00
Ex Tax:£6.67
Natural ox-horn mustard spoons hand cut, formed, and polished in Carnforth, at the last remaining horn-works in Britain. The colours range from white, to translucent amber, through all the shades to black in natural tortoise-shell variations. Horn will not tarnish or taint food stuffs, hence its tra..
£13.00
Ex Tax:£10.83
A simple but ingenious device to assist in the peeling of oranges. Cow-bone. The sharpened hook is used to score and cut the skin into four quarters which can then be prised from the flesh using the flattened rounded tip. Cut, shaped, and finished by hand and to a long established pattern, in Carnfo..
£13.50
Ex Tax:£11.25
Natural horn bowls in two sizes, small approximately 100mm in diameter, or large at about 160mm. Ranging from white, to translucent amber, through all the shades to black in natural tortoise-shell variations. These bowl offer a more beautiful and sustainable alternative to plastic. Hand crafted in C..
£47.00 – £52.00
Ex Tax:£0.00
A simple, beautiful, hand-made ox-horn classic hair grip — hand cut, shaped, and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire site of Britain's one remaining commercial horn-works. This is the authentic item which all the plastic ones are attempting to emulate, never quite reaching the natural beauty of the re..
£24.50
Ex Tax:£20.42
Pairs of traditionally cut dice with weight ground faces - the spots varying in size approximately proportionally to number with the intention of minimising any potential statistically significant loading; although as a natural material inconsistencies may occur. Handmade of sterilised cow bone in C..
£24.00
Ex Tax:£20.00
A lightly sharpened natural ox-horn letter opener made from the horns of Nigerian long horned fulani cattle and hand cut, shaped, and polished to an almost glass like finish in Carnforth, Lancashire - site of Britain's one remaining commercial hornworks. The colours range from white, to translucent ..
£17.50
Ex Tax:£14.58
A beechwood hairbrush topped with ox-horn. With 8 rows of stiff, dark wild boar bristles, this brush is great for detangling and smoothing medium to long hair. Hand cut, shaped, and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire, site of Britain's one remaining commercial horn-works. Cut along the grain of ..
£74.00
Ex Tax:£61.67
A large, wide toothed comb, suitable for combing the mane of your horse, but also great for those with very thick and curly hair, detangling whilst leaving curls intact, supplied with a leather thong attached. Hand cut, shaped, and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire, site of Britain's one remaining c..
£23.00
Ex Tax:£19.17
A natural ox-horn comb medium sized (148mm) fine toothed comb for styling and tidying shorter or less tangled hair. Shaped, sawn, and polished to a glass like finish in Carnforth, Lancashire, the site of Britain's one remaining hornworks. The colours range from white, to translucent amber, through a..
£18.00
Ex Tax:£15.00
A small natural ox-horn comb for the tidying of beards and moustaches. Hand sawn, shaped, and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire, at the last remaining horn-works in Britain. 87mm long by approximately 20mm in width. Naturally varied horn colour...
£16.00
Ex Tax:£13.33
Made in Carnforth, Lancashire by the craftsmen of Great Britain’s last remaining commercial hornworks from the the horn of Nigerian long horned fulani cattle mounted to a head of selected pure badger hair. Lightly trimmed to retain their typical light-dark ticking these tapered hairs hold their spri..
£128.00
Ex Tax:£106.67
A natural ox-horn shoe horn, hand formed and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire, using techniques and processes that have barely changed for centuries. Cut along the grain of the horn for strength, and subject to natural variations in colour ranging from almost white, through translucent ambers, sien..
£17.50
Ex Tax:£14.58
A natural ox-horn shoe or boot horn, hand formed and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire, using techniques and processes that have barely changed for centuries. Cut along the grain of the horn for strength, and subject to natural variations in colour ranging from almost white, through translucent ambe..
£88.00
Ex Tax:£73.33
A natural ox-horn paté or butter spreader of a type common before the advent of stainless steel as horn does not tarnish like silver or carbon steel, or taint the flavour of foodstuffs in which it stands. Made from the horn of Nigerian long horned fulani cattle and hand cut, shaped, and polis..
£12.50
Ex Tax:£10.42
Natural ox-horn egg or baby spoons hand cut, formed, and polished in Carnforth, at the last remaining horn-works in Britain. The colours range from white, to translucent amber, through all the shades to black in natural tortoise-shell variations. Horn will not tarnish or taint food stuffs, hence its..
£11.00
Ex Tax:£9.17
A natural ox-horn, two-pronged pickle fork. A useful gadget for stylishly retrieving pickles from a jar or bowl, perfect for serving with at table and for avoiding spilling juices. A type common before the advent of stainless steel,  horn does not tarnish like silver or carbon steel, or taint t..
£13.00
Ex Tax:£10.83
A simple creamy-white cow-bone spoon cut, shaped, and polished by hand in Carnforth, Lancashire in the workshops of Britain's last remaining commercial horn-works. Like horn bone does not taint or affect the flavour of food, and can be considered a natural alternative to plastic. The bone egg spoons..
£8.00
Ex Tax:£6.67
Natural ox-horn salad servers - a longer handled spoon and 'fork'. Made from the horn of Nigerian Fulani Ankole cattle - a long horned domesticated beef stock bred and farmed extensively throughout West Africa - and hand cut, shaped, and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire site of Britain's one remain..
£90.00
Ex Tax:£75.00
Natural ox-horn scarf pins, hand cut, formed and polished in Carnforth, Lancashire, using techniques and processes that have barely changed for centuries. Cut along the grain of the horn for strength, and subject to natural variations in colour ranging from almost white, through translucent ambers, ..
£12.50
Ex Tax:£10.42
A pair of cufflinks with a circular inlay of horn and rhodium-plated steel body. Rhodium, particularly suitable for jewellery, creates a surface that is resistant to scratches and tarnish. Small segments of Nigerian long-horned Fulani cattle horn, chosen for their unique colour and pattern are cut a..
£36.00
Ex Tax:£30.00
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