What is this? Powder flask/Tobacco Flask?

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

I dont know wht it is, but I have found the attached picture, which is from a sales catalogue from 1974 from Elliott and Snowdon.
'Part striped wood, part iron and decorated with gold scrolls. Early 19th century.'

Hi Jens,
Thank you.
The pic you show appears to be a powder bandolier. Similar sort of thing to this one.
What I have is not from a bandolier and I suspect it is more likely for tobacco/snuff but hoped that someone here could identify the decoration style, and perhaps give a concise identification as to use.
Stu

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Jens,
Thank you.
The pic you show appears to be a powder bandolier. Similar sort of thing to this one.
What I have is not from a bandolier and I suspect it is more likely for tobacco/snuff but hoped that someone here could identify the decoration style, and perhaps give a concise identification as to use.
Stu

The decoration is a little like my large 19th C hunting knife which equally I have scant idea as to origin though it was sold as a N Indian made for the European market ....

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by thinreadline

The decoration is a little like my large 19th C hunting knife which equally I have scant idea as to origin though it was sold as a N Indian made for the European market ....

I was thinking that region also. Snuff/tobacco flasks from Afghanistan are of similar size to the item I was querying. Pics here
Stu

[Richard G]

Something to do with betel? Possibly?
Regards
Richard

[Kubur]

Can be also khol flasks very common in the Arab world.
i think yours is from Morocco...

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Can be also khol flasks very common in the Arab world.
i think yours is from Morocco...

Not a Khol flask...the neck is far to big. I have 3 Khol flasks in my collection and there is no resemblance.
Stu

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Something to do with betel? Possibly?
Regards
Richard

Hi Richard. I did think of possibly a Betel container, mainly as the decoration could also be SE Asian.
Stu

[Helleri]

This is probably a dumb question. But have you checked really well to see if any thing is left in it? I mean like with a bright flash light. Maybe even scraping the inside. Even a fleck or a small caking of something left in there might tell you a lot.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

See relevant detail at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=POWDER+FLASK
In the case of the powder charges in rows at #4 and #5 above ~ these are generally considered to be Ottoman and seen as far afield as Oman. Thought not to be actual gun belts but carried in a separate bag. www.Omanisilver.com refers.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Helleri

This is probably a dumb question. But have you checked really well to see if any thing is left in it? I mean like with a bright flash light. Maybe even scraping the inside. Even a fleck or a small caking of something left in there might tell you a lot.

Sorry it has taken a while to get around to your suggestion. What little residue there was, was a light grey in colour and when a lighted match was touched to it, there were tiny flashes which would maybe suggest gun powder.
If indeed this is a container for gunpowder, I do not believe that it is part of a "bandolier type" set. My reasoning here is that the container itself is tapered and not straight sided, and also is decorated overall, which would not be likely if held in a leather pocket of some sort.
Stu