Antique Hunting Horn
An antique hunting horn brings the drama of the field indoors, taking the form of sterling silver table lighters, copper coaching horns and diminutive silver vinaigrettes.
Antique Hunting Horn
The version you meet most frequently on this page is the sterling silver table cigar lighter modelled as a curved horn, often hallmarked during the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Beyond the smoking room accessories, the selection encompasses larger coaching horns and smaller personal items such as vinaigrettes and pendants designed to echo the silhouette of the chase.
How they were made
Silversmiths utilised sterling silver sheet, spinning or shaping the metal over mandrels to achieve the tapered, curving form of the horn before applying detailed engraving and hallmarks.
Copper and brass examples relied on traditional sheet metal fabrication, with seams neatly joined and brass mounts added for structural reinforcement at the mouthpiece and bell.
Makers integrated natural materials such as cattle horn, bone and antler into related desk sets and furnishings, pairing them with oak, leather and steel.
Antique Hunting Horn Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for hunting horn among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
The selection includes table lighters, vinaigrettes, scent bottles, and coaching horns alongside related equestrian accessories.
What varies in quality
Quality rests upon the crispness of the casting and the weight of the metal utilised in the body of the horn, distinguishing robust silver novelties from lighter plated counterparts.
The precision of the maker's mark and the clarity of the chasing determine the standing of a piece, with registered silversmiths achieving superior definition in their work.
Preservation of the original surface patina on copper, brass and silver separates pieces that retain their untouched character from those subjected to excessive cleaning.
Sampson Mordan·Swaine Adeney·John Meek·Asprey·Rasumny·Braham
The Antique Hunting Horn Glossary
- Hallmark
- Official stamps applied to precious metals indicating the standard of purity, the assay office, and the date of manufacture. These marks allow collectors to date silver hunting horns precisely.
- Vinaigrette
- A small ornamental box featuring an internal pierced grille, designed to hold a sponge soaked in aromatic vinegar. Several hunting horn examples doubled as miniature scent containers.
- Coaching horn
- A long, straight brass or copper horn sounded by coachmen to signal arrival and departure. These larger instruments differ in form from the curved hunting horns found on tables.
- Table lighter
- A decorative desk or smoking room accessory engineered to house a wick and fuel reservoir. Novelty examples shaped like hunting horns were popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Chasing
- The art of embossing or indenting decorative motifs onto the front surface of metalwork using hammers and punches. This technique created the realistic texture seen on silver horn mounts.
Antique Hunting Horn: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date an antique hunting horn?
Dating silver hunting horns relies on the legible hallmarks stamped into the metal, which record the assay office, standard mark, and a specific date letter corresponding to the year of manufacture.
For unmarked copper or brass horns, dating depends upon stylistic clues such as the method of seam construction, the alloy composition, and comparable examples from the Victorian period.
Are hunting horns made of actual horn?
While the search phrase describes the shape, many decorative table lighters and novelties were cast entirely in sterling silver rather than organic horn.
When natural horn, antler, or bone was utilised in related equestrian and Black Forest furnishings, the material was selected for its rugged texture and visual warmth.
How do I display a hunting horn at home?
Table lighters and smaller silver horn objects suit placement on desks, mantelpieces, or library tables alongside books and smoking accessories.
Larger copper and brass coaching horns can be mounted horizontally on wall brackets or displayed upright in umbrella stands to highlight their sweeping linear forms.