Horn was a popular material to use for drinking containers, and is still used today. Each sort of horn has its own properties, which influence the way it is worked. Some horn is soft, similar to our fingernails, and can be formed by using heat into many different shapes. Once cut out and bent, it will remain in that position until heated again. Other horn is more brittle, like bone, and is more suitable for carving or turning. Finished horn can be polished, and comes in an infinite combination of colours, ranging from black, through brown to cream. No two horn mugs could ever look the same.

Horn can be delaminated, and then the thinnest pieces become almost transparent, and therefore let in light. These were used to provide protection in lanterns, or lant-horns, to prevent the flame from blowing out, and to provide a type of glass for windows in houses. Some of the smaller panes of glass in London Guildhall are made of horn.

The Tudors used horn mugs for drinking beer. Tudors of all ages, including children, drank beer, although much of it was not as alcoholic as today's beers. Their water was not clean enough to drink, and was frequently the cause of water-based infections that were potentially life threatening. Although water is used in the brewing of beer, the addition of the yeast and sugar made it resistant to harmful bacteria. Most Tudor households brewed their own beer, both strong and 'small' or weak beer. In fruit growing areas, cider was made from apples, and perry from pears.

The horn had many uses in Tudor times, mainly as drinking containers. This was because, once the bone core had been removed from a horn, a horn lent itself to holding liquid. In fact, some drinking horns were used just as they were, horn-shaped, with no attempt to create a flat base.

Horn was a popular material because it was very versatile to work with. It could be carved, and if heated, it could be bent and moulded into many different shapes. Its big advantage over pottery was its durability - if dropped, it would not break. The Tudors used horn from cows, rams and deer, each of which had a different appearance.

This horn mug holds about 1.68 litres of liquid. It is quite simple, retaining the shape of the original horn, part of which has been bent to form a handle. It has a wooden base and is not carved or otherwise decorated.

Horn mugs of many different shapes and sizes were used by the Tudors. Horn was also used to create spoons, household goods, jewellery and weapons.