Horn Spoon

Spoon made by the travelling people who played an important part in the everyday life of Highland rural communities.The horn spoon, made in 1877, was commissioned by Dugald MacFarlane's mother to commemorate his seventh birthday. A traveller craftsman produced it from a sawn, heated and pressed cow's horn and attached a thistle made from a silver sixpence. Dugald Macfarlane eventually became the Very Reverend, living in St Columba's Manse, Kingussie, Inverness-shire. The spoon however is significant as it represents the importance of the contribution of the 'travelling people' to the everyday life of Highland rural communities. They used the resources of the environment around them to create all sorts of domestic and working goods such as horn spoons, heather mats, pot scrubbers, woven creels etc. As well as working on the land, the travellers also excelled in metalwork from tinsmithing to the re-working of silver and gold. For the latter, several became some of Scotland's primary provincial silversmiths.

Spoon made by the travelling people who played an important part in the everyday life of Highland rural communities.