The Horn Mug is an ancient drinking implement of the Khiamniungan Naga tribe, a native group found in the eastern highlands of Nagaland, particularly the Noklak district astride the India-Myanmar border. The product gives insight into that tribe's ingenuity and their skill in the use of organically available materials around them to meet day-to-day needs. The cup is conical in shape, made out of animal horn, probably a domestic buffalo or mithun, which are both important in pastoral life for the Naga. The natural curve and hollow structure of the horn itself make it suitable for being fashioned into a container.
The shape of the mug allows it to be stable when upright, while the inner side is nicely polished, which enables its safe use for drinking water, rice beer (zutho), and other traditional drinks. This kind of mug is manufactured from the heating, shaping, and polishing of horns, requiring advanced artisanal skill and craftsmanship. These mugs have been widely used in festivals, community feasts, and rituals, thus making them not only functional items but also social and ceremonial fabric of the Khiamniungan culture. The Horn Mug is today preserved in Kolkata's Indian Museum and is thus a significant artifact representing the traditional lifestyle, sustainable use of resources, and artistic creativity of the Khiamniungan Naga tribe.