CALIVERMAN's Powder Flasks and Their Leather Frogs, Nuremberg, ca. 1580-1620

Matchlock · 15th April 2014, 08:46 PM

Here is a caliverman's flask I photographed 30 years ago in the reserve collection of the St.-Annen-Museum Lübeck, Lower Saxony, Germany.
The obverse and small sides of the wooden body are profusely carved with scales.
Following the usual formal criteria, a date of 'ca. 1600 to early 17th century' would seem appropriate. However, a 'military' wheellock musket, the lock struck with the Suhl proof mark SVL and the octagonal barrel retaining its original bluing, and the whole gun datable to ca. 1640, features a stock carved in exactly the same manner. It is preserved in the reserve collection of the Gäubodenmuseum of Straubing, Lower Bavaria, and would go perfectly well with the flask stylistically. Thus I am prone to assign the same date to this flask, making it the latest of its kind known to me, from the 'heyday' of the horrible Thirty Years War.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 16th April 2014, 12:45 PM

A very good Nuremberg made caliverman's flask, the flattened cow horn body engraved with a characteristic scene all'antica, probably depicting Heracles and the Nemeic lion, the reverse inscribed 'I. Collone WITELSBACH', spelled with a doubling tilde above the n and T respectively, and referring to its provenance, the former Straubing arsenal of the Dukes (German: Herzöge) of Wittelsbach.
The belt hook and spring loaded nozzle cap are both missing.

Please note the crisp and highly contrasted state of preservation of the engraving. It is this perfectly retained original condition that actually separates the wheat from the chaff when a piece is chosen to enter a collection!
Take a few minutes and search the engraved cow horn flasks posted in this thread, just concentrating on the craftsmanship of their engraving and their state of preservation!

I took these photographs 25 years ago in the reserve collection of the Gäubodenmuseum of the City of Straubing, Lower Bavaria.

m

Matchlock · 15th May 2014, 03:26 PM

For exact definitions, please see my posts and attachments:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...341#post170341

m

Matchlock · 18th December 2014, 07:38 PM

For some of the finest caliverman's flasks in existence, see
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19421

15th April 2014, 08:46 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Here is a caliverman's flask I photographed 30 years ago in the reserve collection of the St.-Annen-Museum Lübeck, Lower Saxony, Germany. The obverse and small sides of the wooden body are profusely carved with scales. Following the usual formal criteria, a date of 'ca. 1600 to early 17th century' would seem appropriate. However, a 'military' wheellock musket, the lock struck with the Suhl proof mark SVL and the octagonal barrel retaining its original bluing, and the whole gun datable to ca. 1640, features a stock carved in exactly the same manner. It is preserved in the reserve collection of the Gäubodenmuseum of Straubing, Lower Bavaria, and would go perfectly well with the flask stylistically. Thus I am prone to assign the same date to this flask, making it the latest of its kind known to me, from the 'heyday' of the horrible Thirty Years War. Best, Michael Attached Images

16th April 2014, 12:45 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A very good Nuremberg made caliverman's flask, the flattened cow horn body engraved with a characteristic scene all'antica, probably depicting Heracles and the Nemeic lion, the reverse inscribed 'I. Collone WITELSBACH', spelled with a doubling tilde above the n and T respectively, and referring to its provenance, the former Straubing arsenal of the Dukes (German: Herzöge) of Wittelsbach. The belt hook and spring loaded nozzle cap are both missing. Please note the crisp and highly contrasted state of preservation of the engraving. It is this perfectly retained original condition that actually separates the wheat from the chaff when a piece is chosen to enter a collection! Take a few minutes and search the engraved cow horn flasks posted in this thread, just concentrating on the craftsmanship of their engraving and their state of preservation! I took these photographs 25 years ago in the reserve collection of the Gäubodenmuseum of the City of Straubing, Lower Bavaria. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 16th April 2014 at 02:46 PM.

15th May 2014, 03:26 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Belt Hooks and Frog Hogs on Flasks, ca. 1520/30 to 1700 For exact definitions, please see my posts and attachments: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...341#post170341 m

18th December 2014, 07:38 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	For some of the finest caliverman's flasks in existence, see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19421