The hornworker works with animal horn—primarily bovine horn—to reveal its aesthetic and technical qualities. He selects the raw material based on its thickness, transparency, or color, then carefully cuts and heats it to soften it. The heat makes the horn malleable, allowing him to flatten it under pressure, shape it, or bend it.
Once shaped, the horn is machined and polished to make various utilitarian or decorative objects: plates for making combs, eyeglass frames, knife handles, or fashion accessories. Its denser tip is highly sought after in cutlery. Its fine, even grain allows for a remarkably shiny polish.
This ancestral know-how requires a sense of material, temperature control, precision of movement, and great respect for natural materials. The craft of cornerwork, now rare, contributes to the development of a biodegradable, sustainable material derived from the recycling of animal by-products.
There is no specific certified vocational training for the craft of cornerworker in Switzerland. However, it is still possible to transfer knowledge without certification from a craftsperson.
However, certain craft training courses, such as cabinetmaking , wood sculpting , or even areas related to cutlery or artisanal eyewear , allow you to acquire useful concepts: precision work, shaping natural materials, polishing and attention to detail.
In an initial CFC training course in cabinetmaking , lessons on precision work and shaping of natural materials, mastery of assembly, polishing and finishing techniques, reading plans and making custom pieces, as well as sensitivity to aesthetics and noble materials. Duration 4 years. You will find all the information on orientation.ch .
In an initial CFC training course for wood sculptor , lessons on mastering sculpting tools for shaping complex forms, relief work and research into details in natural materials, the sense of volumes and expressiveness of materials, fine finishing techniques (sanding, polishing, patinas) and the ability to restore or create unique pieces using artisanal know-how. Duration 4 years. You will find all the information onorientation.ch .
In an initial CFC training course for cutlery maker , lessons on shaping metal parts and assembling them with natural materials such as horn or wood, knowledge of the mechanical and aesthetic properties of horn used for handles, the ability to work hard and organic materials with care, the production of custom-made parts according to a high level of artisanal requirements and mastery of finishes. Duration 4 years. You will find all the information on orientation.ch .
In Europe, there is currently no certified training specifically dedicated to the hornwork profession. However, some craft training courses cover techniques similar to or integrated with hornwork, particularly in the fields of cutlery, tablet making, and leatherwork. You can find more information at the Institute for French Know-How in France or at IFAPME in Belgium.