The surgeon’s guild comprised a group of physicians who treated external illnesses and performed barber duties. The guild, which had been founded in 1552, moved into new quarters in 1619, taking up residence in the former weigh house on the Nieuwmarkt. For many years the guild’s art collection was a tourist attraction, drawing visitors both from within the Netherlands and from abroad. The drinking horn remained in the guild’s possession for over two centuries. Once consent had been granted by the mayor and municipal councillors, the horn was sold at auction on 24 November 1834, at which time it was bought by Squire H. Six van Hillegom for the sum of 185 guilders. He in turn presented the horn to his medical colleague Prof. Dr W. Noordenbos of Amsterdam, in gratitude for an operation performed. The horn was purchased by this museum in 1980.