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

[Matchlock]

A Flemish or Swiss caliverman's engraved cowhorn flask, dated 1594;
Wallace Colln., London.

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[Matchlock]

Two unusually fine South German caliverman's flasks, for guardsmen, ca. 1600, the blackened cowhorn bodies engraved with foliage, the mounts incised and gilt;

- the first probably Augsburg, the top mount featuring a lid for an additional compartment of unknown purpose, and complete with reverse belt hook;

- the second engraved with characteristic Nuremberg foliage, the bottom comprising a compartment for spare balls, and complete with reverse belt hook;

both Wallace Colln, London.


For similar flasks combined with ball compartments see posts #4, 8 and 18.



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[Matchlock]

Two further caliverman's flasks, ca. 1590-1600, the bottom mount comprising a reservoir for spare balls;
the lower one, with etched and gilt mounts, dated 1594, preserved in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nuremberg.

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[Matchlock]

A caliverman's flask with plain wooden body, ca. 1590-1600.

And a contemporary cowhorn flask retaining its original raw silk and wool tassels, in the Legermuseum Delft.

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[Matchlock]

An unusually fine South German (Augsburg or Nuremberg) caliverman's flask, ca. 1590-1600;
the body of bleached, flattened, engraved and blackened cowhorn; a very rare feature is the fact that the mounts are made of brass, embossed, pierced, engraved punched with decorative quatrefoils; the reverse-mounted belt hook of iron.
The obverse engraved with a sunburst and typical Nuremberg style foliage, the reverse with the usual concentric circles.
The whole preserved in optimum condition.

This finely wrought flask was most probably designed for a guardsman of a small unit.

Sold Hermann Historica, April 23, 2012, after failing to sell at least in two previous auctions!


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[Matchlock]

Another very rare instance of a good-quality caliverman's leather frog, ca. 1600, very similar in make to a sample in the author's collection, see post # 8.

Displayed inaptly together with a triangular musketeer's flask, in the museum of Weissenburg/Bavaria, not far from the author's home.
Author's photos.

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[Matchlock]

A fine sample of a caliverman's frog, Nuremberg, ca. 1600, the obverse covered with a grayish velvet (obviously made for a guardsman; only the primary layer preserved, with the surface rubbed).
Please note the characteristic Nuremberg heart-shaped ornamental piercings.

The Royal Armouries Leeds; author's photos, 1997.

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