Powder flask for ID ... and comments

fernando · 22nd March 2019, 05:59 PM

My intuitive guess is that this African ... North African.´
Cam you guys confirm this ... or am i wrong ?
Age could be 19th century ?
All in brass, (unnecessarily) heavy, with 406 grams. Total length 18 cms.

Thank you.
.

kahnjar1 · 22nd March 2019, 08:00 PM

Looks to me to be Moroccan/Algerian. The "banjo" shape is typical of Morocco but the surface decoration looks Algerian.
Nice flask though missing one hanging ring.
Stu

fernando · 22nd March 2019, 08:13 PM

Thank you Stu,
Could it be as old as from the 19th century ? It surely wasn't made the other day

.

kahnjar1 · 22nd March 2019, 09:00 PM

Yes it COULD be 19th century but I would not like to guarantee that. Lets say late 19th to mid 20th to be on the safe side. Others might be willing to date it more accurately

Stu

rickystl · 26th March 2019, 08:33 PM

Hi Fernando

I agree with Stu. It's probably early to mid 20th Century. By then, made more for the tourist market. Run a pencil or wire down the spout and see if it is drilled through the body of the flask. Often these flasks are assembled from all/parcel castings versus sheet brass/stamping s, which makes them heavier than you would expect.

Here are three Moroccan flasks. The one in the upper left corner is a latter tourist item. The hole in the spout was not drilled through the body of the flask. The carry strap, while colorful, is thin light weight cotton. A latter tourist item.
The horn and small priming flask are the authentic items that both had traces of black powder in them. (Strap on horn added later by me) LOL

Rick

fernando · 26th March 2019, 09:12 PM

Much obliged for your input, Rick.
In the meantime i gave it back to my friend who had offered to sell it for the same price he bought it ... extremely cheap indeed. I confess i wasn't so fond of it, neither it was my (Euro) collecting area.
Thanks again.

22nd March 2019, 05:59 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Powder flask for ID ... and comments My intuitive guess is that this African ... North African.´ Cam you guys confirm this ... or am i wrong ? Age could be 19th century ? All in brass, (unnecessarily) heavy, with 406 grams. Total length 18 cms. Thank you. . Attached Images

22nd March 2019, 08:00 PM	#2
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,772	Looks to me to be Moroccan/Algerian. The "banjo" shape is typical of Morocco but the surface decoration looks Algerian. Nice flask though missing one hanging ring. Stu Attached Images

26th March 2019, 08:33 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,629	Hi Fernando I agree with Stu. It's probably early to mid 20th Century. By then, made more for the tourist market. Run a pencil or wire down the spout and see if it is drilled through the body of the flask. Often these flasks are assembled from all/parcel castings versus sheet brass/stamping s, which makes them heavier than you would expect. Here are three Moroccan flasks. The one in the upper left corner is a latter tourist item. The hole in the spout was not drilled through the body of the flask. The carry strap, while colorful, is thin light weight cotton. A latter tourist item. The horn and small priming flask are the authentic items that both had traces of black powder in them. (Strap on horn added later by me) LOL Rick Attached Images

22nd March 2019, 08:13 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Stu, Could it be as old as from the 19th century ? It surely wasn't made the other day .

22nd March 2019, 09:00 PM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,772	Yes it COULD be 19th century but I would not like to guarantee that. Lets say late 19th to mid 20th to be on the safe side. Others might be willing to date it more accurately Stu

26th March 2019, 09:12 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Much obliged for your input, Rick. In the meantime i gave it back to my friend who had offered to sell it for the same price he bought it ... extremely cheap indeed. I confess i wasn't so fond of it, neither it was my (Euro) collecting area. Thanks again.