Kubachi Niello Drinking Horn

The most important silver and metal making tradition in the Caucasus region was that of Kubachi, an old mining village where generations of craftsmen produced the most beautiful silver and pottery "niello" objects in the history of the region. The "niello" technique is applied to silver. A silver object is engraved or chased and filled with a dark metal, mainly sulfur, which is then polished to create a contracted effect. In the history of Dagestan, the ceremonial drinking horn was of great importance. These ritual horns were originally made for tribal leaders, but later, during the 19th and 20th centuries, they became more accessible to the wealthy. Ceremonial drinking horns were initially intended for drinking wine, with the silver adding a specific taste to it.

Our example: Presumably made of yak horn, due to its shape and typical translucent brown color. The horn was covered with thick chased silver fittings with floral and foliate motifs inlaid with "niello". The reverse has an arabesque mark that may indicate the maker. The lower fitting has similar decoration and spreads out like a beak. A magnificent example that belonged to a wealthy gentleman.