Horn, like tortoiseshell, is a natural thermoplastic and can be worked by heat and pressure to make a wide variety of artefacts including fans. It can be pressed into thin translucent sheets and the surface adulterated using chemicals. Horns of antelope, goat and sheep have been worked but the major supply line derives from cattle. Horn was less costly and more abundant than tortoiseshell and is more often associated with fans of middling quality. Preparing horn begins with the process of separating the horn from its soft core by rotting or soaking in water. The extracted horn is then softened by boiling or baking. Once pliable, the horn is then sliced vertically, the cylinder opened flat and then pressed between heated plates. Once pressed, the pieces are scraped to reduce thickness, smoothed and polished with charcoal powder. The material is now ready to be worked. By boiling it in infusions of various colouring ingredients, Horn could be coloured to imitate tortoiseshell for fans, combs and inlay work. A compound of ingredients including quicklime and ‘Dragon’s Blood’ (a type of resin) would be applied only to the areas to be coloured. You can see a horn fan treated to resemble tortoiseshell displayed on the top shelf of this section.
To learn more about mother of pearl, press A.For Horn, press B.