A beaker is a drinking vessel with no handle, stem or foot. This one is part of a long tradition of silver-mounted animal horns used for drinking. Here the maker has used ox horn, taking advantage of the horn's natural shape. The inscription on the silver mount reads 'This was part of the great ox's horn', suggesting that it may have been made from an animal which was famous in the area.

Silver featured in all aspects of a gentleman’s daily life, from the morning toilet to an evening at his club. Personal silver was commonly engraved with armorials or a crest, a name or initials. The less affluent would aspire to a few small pieces of silver, perhaps a pair of shoe buckles, a snuff box and a watch.