What is this? Powder flask/Tobacco Flask?

[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

[Richard G]

Stu, back to betel. A grey residue could be the dried out remains of lime paste, (calcium hydroxide) I think. I believe it is the reaction of this with the other ingredients that turns saliva red. I don't know if it flares in contact with a flame.
Regards
Richard

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Richard G

Stu, back to betel. A grey residue could be the dried out remains of lime paste, (calcium hydroxide) I think. I believe it is the reaction of this with the other ingredients that turns saliva red. I don't know if it flares in contact with a flame.
Regards
Richard

I have owned other lime containers in the past but these have all been straight sided and bigger than this one. Not to say that it is not for betel as a suggestion was made somewhere that the decoration looked SE Asian. If from that region it COULD also have been used for powder I suppose.
Stu

[Kmaddock]

Chemistry is my profession
Calcium hydroxide will not flare at all when touched with a match.
No ideas on item though
Regards
Ken