Handgonne Barrels and Böllers

[fernando]

A new member, Silver Shield, not yet familiar with the forum thread/posting mechanisms, has required help to start this thread.
Here is his text ... and images:

There seems to be a link in a traditional instrument of celebratory sound making and a instrument of WAR . After a rather short period of stylistic study that came about rather by accident , I believe I have reviewed a large enough sample to be able to make some remarks and share the insight I have hoped to gain. I put forth these few words and hope they bring some little knowledge about this continuity of style and interesting relationship between two rather different objects.

In areas of mountainous Germany and Austria there persisted until quite recently a folk custom of celebratory sound making used to mark such events such as church holidays, cultural evens and occasions , and even for family and personal events ! These are called "Bollers " generally. Made of foraged Iron usually ,almost always 8 sided ,very slightly tapered , flaring usually to the base , and a common bore size being about 2.5 cm and common height 14cm to about 25cm. Some Bollers getting to 43cm or more . What struck me about these objects was their similarity in style to and dimensions to some "Handgonne Barrels" of the early 1400s. I had to go through a hundred of these to find just one medieval "Barrel" for my collection and it caught my interest ,why ? After the kindness of a friend in Austria who happen to have bought a collection of " Bollers" , I suddenly by chance had the opportunity to study a fairly large collection of Bollers that where made over a large time frame and from a area that was somewhat isolated in terms of cultural exchange .Finally also I was able to compare not only a historical sample but also stylistic lineage What I saw shocked me , some of the Bollers where almost identical to early 1400s "Handgonne Barrels " in size and caliber . And after a study of over 100 objects in this sample alone , a very clear picture was seen that shows something of the human condition and continuity .
My theory and belief , supported by evidence and some little study is that not only was the tradition of " Boller " use in these areas started by the acquisition of surplus Handgonne Barrels by these populations, but until somewhat recently "Handgonne Barrels" of the early 1400s where still being used and copied !This being a testament to the design of such, that a 600 year plus run of this basic design speaks some volumes of its merits and history . My belief is that sometime after the Hussite Wars of 1419 to 1434 , these surplus Handgonne barrels where obtained by populations of these areas and a practical use was found for these relics of War.The barrels in my collection from this sample all date by style to within this time frame most certainly . In both early "Bollers" and "Handgonne Barrels" a common size is about 14cm in height a bore size of about 1.8cm to 2.5cm , some Barrels possibly being rebored . The small sample of Handgonne Barrels I obtained and had seen good quality photographs of show on some a very hurried production without details such as facets of the Barrels being evenly hammered or Bores being centered , certainly made by skilled metal smiths has to imply war time emergency production . The "touch hole " of many Barrels had sometime after there initial period of use as a "Gonne", a "cup" struck down from the" touch hole ", to keep gunpowder from falling out when the barrels where stood straight up , that is to make a "Flash Pan " .This feature of a "Flash Pan" being a standard design element on " Bollers" made later for customary use . Many later " Bollers" even had struck into the " Barrels " designs to imply use as firework instruments . These also where not made as "Powder Testers" or "Cannon " as implied in many sales attempts , but where in effect " Firework Tubes".


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