Wheellock Powderflask

[joe123]

Hi Michael:

Thank you so much for all the information! I never would have guessed these were for military use. From all the pictures I found on the net, I did notice that same concentric circle motif on the reverse of them.

@Fernando:

Thanks for the welcome, and I'm already impressed by the depth and breadth of knowledge on the site!

Best Regards,

A.

[Matchlock]

Hi Andre,

On second sight, and after some photoshopping, I am afraid that the spring-loaded vertical cut-off lever to control the powder flow is missing from the top mount on your flask. I attach a detail from a similar flask showing the scroll finial of the original cut-off. The spring is still present.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

I also wish to add that the floral decoration on your flask forming a foliage with an animal inmidst seems to be at least influenced by the Nuremberg workshop style.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

- for a guardsman of the Electoral Guard (Trabanten-Leibgarde) of Christian I. of Saxony.
Please note the representation of the pikeman and the bluing of the iron mounts on the better preserved items! In one ensemble, even the wheel spanner is retained denoting that this was actually a wheellock accouterment.

Flasks of both this quality and provenance usually appear on the market every five to ten years and realize an average of ca. 5,000-8,000 USD each, the leather frog not included! When the latter is still there they almost double the sum.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

More close-ups of a Saxon caliverman's flask, ca. 1590; Bonhams, 20 April 2011.

m

[Matchlock]

This is a flask of the type Joe 123 posted (post #1).

The auction house stated that the flask was originally part of a soldier carrying a wheellock; however, as wheellocks were extremely rare in military use it was most probably an accouterment accompanying a matchlock caliver, as depicted by de Gheyn in 1607-8 (see post #2).


The flattened, curved body of cowhorn, characteristically engraved with two warriors all'antica on the obverse, and concentric circles on the reverse, the narrow sides also showing their typical pattern, and the ground of the engravings retaining its original deep blackening; the iron top und lower mounts retaining their original blued surface (now heavily patinated overall), and complete with its reverse hook.
The hook on all calivermen's flasks was actually not a 'belt hook' but was for attaching the flask to the leather frog.
The spring of the manually operated nozzle lid is missing from the top mount.

These flasks were made in large numbers in various Nuremberg workshops, with dated samples recorded from the 1590's to 1619 (the latest recorded date, as far as I remember).

As many of these are still around, perfect overall condition is the most important criterion when selecting a piece for your collection.

Best,
m

[Matchlock]

For more calivermen's flasks and their leather frogs, please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=leather+frogs

m