POWDER FLASKS---A QUESTION OF ORIGIN

rickystl · 15th April 2017, 04:54 PM

Here's another Persian example from my collection. This one is in especially nice condition, and has it's original decorative plug/stopper. What's interesting is how the plug was made. It is a decorative metal pin that is continuously wrapped in leather till it meets the diameter of the sput, then stitched. Would be difficult to do. The only item missing is one of the tiny turcoise stones on the stopper. Hope I can locate one.

Rick

rickystl · 15th April 2017, 05:04 PM

And here is my Arab style flask, which look pretty much like all the others. Still in usable condition.

What I've often wondered is how all these leather flasks were made. It appears there were two pieces of tooled leather that were stiched tightly together, then submerged in boiling water to harden. Much like the boiled leather used under chain mail armour in the Middle Ages. What I can't figure out is how they keep the inside diameter/wider shape? Maybe when the inside is filled with water during the boiling process it expands to it's maximum? Difficult to explain what I'm trying to say.

Rick

kahnjar1 · 15th April 2017, 09:45 PM

Thanks Gentlemen for the comments above.
So it would appear that the first one shown in my pics is Persian (Iran) origin.
Some discussion still seems to be needed for the other two though. We have "definitely Afghani" and "Arabian" as origins for these. Maybe a common style of making existed in both areas?
The comment from David regarding the use of the cap as a powder measure seems well founded, and thank you for that David.
As to the use of plug type stoppers as opposed to cap type, my only comment here would be that often the neck opening is not "square" with the actual neck, and therefore an internal plug would not necessarily fit properly.
Rick....I have some small tourquoises.
Stu

Oriental-Arms · 16th April 2017, 09:06 AM

Similar ones will come in steel. Wootz in this case. Persian late 18C.

15th April 2017, 04:54 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Here's another Persian example from my collection. This one is in especially nice condition, and has it's original decorative plug/stopper. What's interesting is how the plug was made. It is a decorative metal pin that is continuously wrapped in leather till it meets the diameter of the sput, then stitched. Would be difficult to do. The only item missing is one of the tiny turcoise stones on the stopper. Hope I can locate one. Rick Attached Images

15th April 2017, 05:04 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	And here is my Arab style flask, which look pretty much like all the others. Still in usable condition. What I've often wondered is how all these leather flasks were made. It appears there were two pieces of tooled leather that were stiched tightly together, then submerged in boiling water to harden. Much like the boiled leather used under chain mail armour in the Middle Ages. What I can't figure out is how they keep the inside diameter/wider shape? Maybe when the inside is filled with water during the boiling process it expands to it's maximum? Difficult to explain what I'm trying to say. Rick Attached Images

15th April 2017, 09:45 PM	#3
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,800	Thanks Gentlemen for the comments above. So it would appear that the first one shown in my pics is Persian (Iran) origin. Some discussion still seems to be needed for the other two though. We have "definitely Afghani" and "Arabian" as origins for these. Maybe a common style of making existed in both areas? The comment from David regarding the use of the cap as a powder measure seems well founded, and thank you for that David. As to the use of plug type stoppers as opposed to cap type, my only comment here would be that often the neck opening is not "square" with the actual neck, and therefore an internal plug would not necessarily fit properly. Rick....I have some small tourquoises. Stu Last edited by kahnjar1; 16th April 2017 at 09:12 PM.

16th April 2017, 09:06 AM	#4
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Steel flasks Similar ones will come in steel. Wootz in this case. Persian late 18C. Attached Images