Fish made of brass
 

I have this item with a total length of ca. 150 mm in my collection since a very long time but until today nobody could tell me what this might be or for which purpose it has been made. It looks as if it comes from India and may contain some kind of liquid or powder. Perhapy somebody here is able to identify this piece?

Very awesome item! I'd lay odds that it probably held a liquid, like a wine flask. Black powder and screw-off caps don't go well together (the grinding force of the uncapping could produce friction. Just my guess, but I can't think of any brass powder flasks that didn't just have a smooth cap.:shrug:

I went to a large antique mall today and saw a flask (not shaped like a fish!) that had a twist/screw cap. It was listed as an old flask, but who knows.

Obviously nobody has an idea what this flask could be made for