The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Chamois Horns [ARK00080]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Two pairs of horns, conjoined by small part of skull parts and soft tissue and three single horns. One of the single horns has bone attached, but the other two single appear to have been shed naturally, having no bone or soft tissue attached. All have surface soiling. In Bargrave's words, "Several pairs of horns of the wild mountain goats which the High Dutch call "gemps", the Italians "camuchi", the French "shammois", from whence we have that leather. I had them amongst the Alps, the people telling me strange stories of the creature, what strange leaps they would take amongst the crags of the rocks, and how, to break a fall, they will hang by the horns, and, when they have taken breath, they unhook themselves and take another leap at a venture, and sometimes they will have great falls without any hurt, they still lighting upon their horns. Some of these horns are polished, and serve for several uses". Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) live at moderately high altitudes and are adapted to living in steep, rugged, rocky terrain. A fully grown chamois reaches a height of about 75 cm (2_ feet) and weighs about 50 kg (110 pounds). Males and females have short horns which are slightly curled in the posterior direction. In summer, the fur has a rich brown colour which turns to a light grey in winter. Distinct characteristics are a white face with pronounced black infraorbital stripes, a white rump and a black dorsal stripe. Chamois can reach an age of up to 20 years.] (early - mid 17th cent)