Metal-mounted hoof of 'Jim', the horse of Trumpeter W H Barrett, Royal Horse Artillery, 1920 (c)

The practice of turning a beloved horse into an objet d'art was commonplace in the 19th and early 20th centuries. While it may seem odd and even macabre today, for the horses' owners these items were a way of celebrating and remembering their animal companions. Many bear tender inscriptions revealing how deeply loved and respected the horses were. After the First World War, 'Jim' was presented to Queen Alexandra by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig.