Title: horn-utn-care-msg
Subject: Care of utensils made of horn.
Author: Edited by Mark S. Harris
Last saved by: Mark S. Harris
Keywords: horn, utensil, spoon, care, wash, ivory

horn-utn-care-msg - 3/26/05

Care of utensils made of horn.

NOTE: See also the files: horn-msg, Horn-Spoons-art, utensils-msg, bone-msg, iron-pot-care-msg, ivory-msg, spoons-msg.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 14:49:48 -0500
From: Philip & Susan Troy <troy at asan.com>
Subject: SC - Care of Horn?

I was wondering if any of you had any tips on the care and handling of
horn utensils; my Lady Ceandra escaped from my watchful gaze yesterday
with the contents of my wallet and returned with a lot of STUFF,
including several beautiful horn spoons. This morning I caught her about
to put them in the dishwasher, and, having a vague recollection that
this could be disastrous, but no idea why, thought I'd ask for tips on
the care and feeding of (not with, of!) horn spoons and such.

Adamantius 

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 15:23:35 EST
From: Seton1355 at aol.com
Subject: Re: SC - Care of Horn?

I recall reading to only use a very mild soap or detergent and only 
sparingly.  Rinse imediately and dry imediately.

I'm glad the spoons weren't put in the dishwasher, I only use my dishwasher 
for my Corelle dishes anymore as the soap and knocking about is really bad 
for anything else.

Take care, & Congrats on Ostgards 20th...
Phillipa

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 16:12:55 -0500
From: "Alderton, Philippa" <phlip at morganco.net>
Subject: Re: SC - Care of Horn?

Adamantius, putting horn in a dishwasher is NOT a good idea- hot water is
one of the methods used to soften it for shaping ;-) I've always been told
that the proper way to care for it is to wash it in warm, not hot, soapy
water, rinse it, and immediately dry it and put it away. Don't delay in
washing it, either- it's porous and will stain easily. For regular
maintenance, wipe it with warm vegetable oil every few usages, or once a
year- that helps prevent it from drying out.

Phlip

Philippa Farrour
Caer Frig
Southeastern Ohio

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 18:17:16 -0500
From: Philip & Susan Troy <troy at asan.com>
Subject: Re: SC - Care of Horn?

"Alderton, Philippa" wrote:
> Adamantius, putting horn in a dishwasher is NOT a good idea-

I thought not; you'll note I headed my well-meaning spouse, whose normal
medium of expression is silver, off at the pass.

> hot water is one of the methods used to soften it for shaping ;-)

Uh huh. I also have discovered another good way to soften or delaminate
it is bases, which is why most detergents are a bad idea.

> I've always been told
> that the proper way to care for it is to wash it in warm, not hot, soapy
> water, rince it, and immediately dry it and put it away. Don't delay in
> washing it, either- it's porous and will stain easily. For regular
> maintenance, wipe it with warm vegetable oil every few usages, or once a
> year- that helps prevent it from drying out.

Sounds about right. Thanks! So far, after one day, it's still going
strong! ;  )

Adamantius

Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 11:56:02 +1100
From: "Glenda Robinson" <glendar at compassnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: SC - Care of Horn?

Another thing I've found by trial with horn spoons... Try not to use them
with rough ceramics. My spoon was 'rough sanded' by a bowl recently. It's
been fixed with a light emery, but it's not quite the same shape as it used
to be.

Glenda.

Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 14:42:47 +1100
From: Robyn.Hodgkin at affa.gov.au
Subject: RE: SC - Care of Horn?

The thing to remember about horn is that it is basically hair that is melded
together.  Soaking inhot water and detergent for a long time does just what
this would do to your hair, separate the fibres.  

My advice is as much as possible do not soak horn.  Wipe clean soon after
use with a damp cloth, and remember not to let your spoon sit in your soup!

Kiriel

Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 12:40:04 -0600
From: dailleurs at liripipe.com
Subject: RE: [Sca-cooks] hor utensils
To: "Cooks within the SCA" <sca-cooks at ansteorra.org>, "SCA-Cooks
	maillist	(E-mail)" <SCA-Cooks at ansteorra.org>

hey all from Anne-Marie

> Eirene commented:
>>>>>
Reproduction period pewter spoons are pretty easy to get for under $10  each. My
horn spoons lasted less than a season - they split along the grain pretty quickly in spite of cleaning and drying right after eating.
<<<<

on horn spoons...
yours last less than a seaon? where do you live? Horn doesnt like to 
be too dry, or too wet or too hot. Mine is about three years old and 
starting to delaminate a bit, but still very usable.

running it through the dishwasher is a big no no, and enthuasiastic 
helpful types who let it sit in the washtub too long is not good 
either. Dont let it sit in hot soup too long (or cold soup either), or 
in super acidic stuff too long. I assume super basic stuff (like 
bleach, or strong lye soap) would be equally bad.

the stuff is HORN, so its a biological material, and will delaminate 
pretty easily (it does when its on the cow still too :)) but for some 
reason I haven't had a problem. I figure the stuff wont last forever but 
it lasts longer than my pewter spoons (which walk away after one or two 
events. grr!), at a fraction of the cost!'

YMMV, and does, apparently. most odd!
--Anne-Marie, who lives in a place that is always cool and slightly 
moist. But then I run my woodenware through the dishwasher to sterilize 
it and it lasts for years that way too. Maybe I just have good dish 
karma?

<the end>

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