The Pusey Horn

This still life painting shows the Pusey Horn, a fifteenth century ceremonial drinking horn now in the V&A collections (M.220-1938, gallery 65, case 8, shelf 3). The horn is said to have been given to William Pewse by King Canuate (d. 1035) after Pewse warned the King of an impending attack. This painting depicts the horn on a late 17th century table. In the top left corner, the decorative band from the body of the horn appears flattened so that the gothic inscription can be read as follows;

“I King Canute gave William Pewse this horn to hold by thy land”