Sutton Hoo Drinking Horns

These reconstructed drinking horns from Sutton Hoo in England (early 7th c.) probably reached the burial as high-status imports from continental Europe. Their gilded mounts carry intertwined beasts and human masks in animal style ornament, a dense visual language of early medieval metalwork. Each horn could hold nearly two liters, turning communal drinking into a display of rank, allegiance, and far-reaching connections.