Here is the great lady of Kendal with another monstrous mull (hope the picture appears). The simplest mull is a silver box set in horn. The examples here are called ‘Regimental Mulls’ since it was the custom to use complete skull mulls in the Officers’ Mess. The story behind the word mull is interesting. Apparently derived from the Scots’ pronunciation of mill, the ‘Critical Essay on Snuff’ of 1835 tells that - “The particular intonation of the French is undoubtedly to be ascribed to their excessive indulgence in snuff, which, by clogging up their nose causes them to speak as if they were troubled by a perpetual cold in the head. Though it has been frequently remarked that Scotsmen acquire the pronunciation of the French language much sooner than Englishmen, yet the true reason has not been satisfactorily explained. This facility on the part of the Scotch is not owing to any peculiar delicacy of the ear, but to the circumstances of their nasal organs being better tuned than the English in consequence of their being greater snuff-takers.” So there we have another benefit of taking snuff - language students be aware please, indulgence facilitates the learning of French!
@biskup666 "Do you actually put snuff inside the head, or is only the little silver box on the top a snuffbox? If not, I wonder how do you take snuff from the head? " The snuff is placed in silver boxes mounted in the skull. Attached are by chains are various implements such as a small rake, a spoon, a spade for larger portions, a hare’s foot for dusting the lip and a mallet and pricker. The simpler horn and silver mulls are lovely. I think these full mulls are hideous.
More on Regimental Mulls http://www.scotsdgmuseum.com/pages/silver/rams-head.php http://www.cameronians.org/museum/starobjects.html http://writeantiques.com/antique-snuff-boxes-collection-not-to-be-sniffed-at/ http://willhutchison.com/blog/2010/02/27/a-most-unusual-rams-head-snuff-mull/ http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display.aspx?id=5394
Seems some might find this offensive as an abuse of a dead animal part. Sorta like if someone went to the pound and got dead dog heads and stuck snuff containers in that.
given that they ate the sheep, they were just trying to find a use for the leftovers.
“given that they ate the sheep, they were just trying to find a use for the leftovers.” All these rams began their careers as regimental mascots. Faithful service continued after the mascot’s death by contriving the regimental snuff-mull for the Officers’ Mess. Waste not want not, so presumably the rest of the animal went on mutton stew as you suggest.
Well, I’ve seen people hang a deer head on the wall as a hunting trophy. I’ve seen bear skins used as rugs along with other animal pelts, but a ram snuff box is new. However, it is something that I would not want to store my snuff in. I will continue to keep my snuff in my empty Jägermeister bottles and jars.
“Jägermeister bottles”, what a good idea! The dark glass should be perfect. This rams head box is disgusting, but no more disguisting that the horn mulls, IMHO.
I rather like the Horn Mulls. Especially the one for sale on the WoS website. Very beautiful!
I like horn mauls too. I find this thing awesome and disgusting at the same time. Nothing wrong with trophies hell I like trophies. I grew up in a house with deer heads all over the place.What I find gross about the mull is that I’am grabing snuff out of a freakin head. Which is kind of cool at the same time too though.
Ram’s Head Mull. That would make an awesome name for a band.
I would wear that strapped to my person with a lanyard.
I’d make a cod piece with it.
now Tom502 if you haven’t watched metalacolypse go to the adult swim website and watch the episode killing outside of the box. One of the running jokes is about a codpiece. Watched it last night actualy. All I have to say is cod pieces are freakin funny.
When thinking of “Mulls” I guess I prefer this type: Mull of Kintyre
bob- yes, I do watch that.
I thought so. You can never be sure though. Cod pieces, still funny!
Fortunately being of the Royal Corps of Signals Persuasion, beng a relatively modern Corps avoids some of the weird and wonderful traditions of older regiments/corps. No mankey snuff filled sheep parts here!
To those unfamiliar with such Britishisms as manky, I commend to you the following link… http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/
Good Lord that SUX!!! Eeww!