The Savernake horn – a relic of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray?

Abstract

The Savernake horn, so-called from its ownership by families who were wardens of the English forest of that name, is a fine example of medieval art. It is carved from an elephant tusk and has silver and enamelled mounts with birds and animals as well as images of a bishop, a king and a forester, suggesting commemoration of an agreement on forestry or hunting rights. Its baldric has enamelled mounts with arms recognisable as those of Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, Robert Bruce’s leading general. Since the British Museum’s acquisition in 1975 of horn and baldric together, it has been argued that the former was the medieval horn of tenure for Savernake Forest and the latter was a replacement that was not directly relevant to the earlier history of the horn. This paper proposes that horn and baldric always belonged together and are an important relic of one of Scotland’s most illustrious heroes.