Hunting Horn from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Oliphants, also known as hunting horns, were made of ivory and were popular in the Middle Ages. An example is this horn, made around 1200, which is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.

This object is a unique artifact that demonstrates the cultural exchange between Muslim craftsmen and Christian patrons.

Oliphants like this one were carved by Muslim craftsmen in southern Italy, which historians attribute to the strong Arab influence in the area. The region known as the Sicilian Emirate was a meeting place for a variety of cultures, including the Normans, Byzantines, and Arabs. These horns were coveted by European nobility and were widely exported across the continent.

Oliphants were often decorated with intricate designs, geometric patterns, and animal images, giving them not only aesthetic but also ritual significance. The horn ornamentation in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection demonstrates the splendor of ivory carving, which was highly prized for its intricate detail.

These horns played an important role in symbolizing power and status. They were often associated with the hunting traditions of the royal courts of Europe, where hunting was considered a privileged activity for the nobility. Owning such a luxurious object emphasized the high status of the owner and his connections with international trade routes and cultural exchange.

Since the late 19th century, the museum began acquiring works of art and artifacts by Arab masters. Initially, this collection consisted of a few cuneiform tablets and seals, and today it has more than 7,000 exhibits. The exhibition covers the period from the late Neolithic to the fall of the Sassanid Empire, including objects from Sumerian, Hittite, Sassanian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Elamite and other cultures.