Moroccan powder flasks

newyorkcobra · 30th July 2022, 02:18 AM

I have two large Moroccan powder flasks in my collection. One is covered in scrimshawed camel bone and has engraved silver escutcheons containing coral and turquoise stones. The fill spout is camel bone. The second powder flask is covered in engraved silver with flower shaped escutcheons containing coral stones. The entire surface also contains silver rivets, and the fill spout is also camel bone. The workmanship on both flasks is very fine and I estimated the value of each to be in excessive of $600. Can you fellow collectors give me your opinions/ any info on these flasks? Thank you!

Ian · 31st July 2022, 11:10 PM

Please take any mention of valuations to PM or email, not on this discussion forum.

kahnjar1 · 8th August 2022, 08:51 AM

Hi NYCobra and welcome to the Forum.
Nice pair of flasks you have there. As Ian has already said, any mention of values, or requesting valuations is taboo here.
Your pair could possibly be made for the tourist market but it is a bit unusual for those to have camel bone spouts. Is the body of the flask/s hollow....check by running a piece of wire or suchlike down the spout to see if it goes all the way to the bottom. If so, then they could be made to be used, rather than just for decoration. Here is a link to some Moroccan flasks I once owned. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...oroccan+flasks
If you use the Search function above you will find other posts by entering "Moroccan flasks"
Stu

newyorkcobra · 15th August 2022, 02:13 AM

Thanks for responding Stu! The powder flask covered in scrimshaw camel bone is hollow and came from an estate sale of a rich, high level family in Fess, Morocco. The silver flask is hollow, but has a metal obstruction that would prevent any storage of powder and is therefore a reproduction or decoratuve item. It was a gift thrown in with a sale made in Morocco. I have decided to keep it in my collection because it is representative of fine silver workmanship by a Berber artisan/jeweler in early 1900's. I am including a photo of some of the Moroccan powder flasks in my collection. Please note that the dagger in the photo is a Spanish, 17th century, left-hand dagger.

kahnjar1 · 16th August 2022, 02:37 AM

Nice pieces you have there!! Thanks for showing.
Re the silver flask, I would not be in a hurry tp part with it, even if it has something inside which stops it being used as a flask. As you say it is a very nice example of silverwork and work of this quality is not often seen on Moroccan flasks.
I see just a glimpse of a couple of Nimcha in the top left corner of your pic. Any chance of seeing a pic of the full items?
Stu

newyorkcobra · 19th August 2022, 07:19 PM

Sure Stu, be glad to! I believe you could classify each of these swords as museum quality.

rickystl · 21st August 2022, 05:24 PM

Beautiful workmanship on those two flasks. As well, that beehive flask being in great condition. Nice pieces all.

newyorkcobra · 21st August 2022, 09:09 PM

Here are the photos. I had difficulty posting them! Sorry!

newyorkcobra · 27th August 2022, 05:53 PM

Apparently my photos were in the wrong format! So I am going to try with a jpg format! Sorry Stu.

kahnjar1 · 27th August 2022, 11:40 PM

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631
Hi NYCobra....this might help.
Stu

Lee · 28th August 2022, 01:31 PM

Here are the photos:

kahnjar1 · 28th August 2022, 10:55 PM

Thanks Lee. Nice pieces by the look of them.
Stu

30th July 2022, 02:18 AM	#1
newyorkcobra Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 6	Moroccan powder flasks I have two large Moroccan powder flasks in my collection. One is covered in scrimshawed camel bone and has engraved silver escutcheons containing coral and turquoise stones. The fill spout is camel bone. The second powder flask is covered in engraved silver with flower shaped escutcheons containing coral stones. The entire surface also contains silver rivets, and the fill spout is also camel bone. The workmanship on both flasks is very fine and I estimated the value of each to be in excessive of $600. Can you fellow collectors give me your opinions/ any info on these flasks? Thank you! Attached Images Last edited by Lee; 30th July 2022 at 07:44 PM. Reason: add images

31st July 2022, 11:10 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	Moderators' comment Please take any mention of valuations to PM or email, not on this discussion forum.

15th August 2022, 02:13 AM	#4
newyorkcobra Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 6	Moroccan powder flasks Thanks for responding Stu! The powder flask covered in scrimshaw camel bone is hollow and came from an estate sale of a rich, high level family in Fess, Morocco. The silver flask is hollow, but has a metal obstruction that would prevent any storage of powder and is therefore a reproduction or decoratuve item. It was a gift thrown in with a sale made in Morocco. I have decided to keep it in my collection because it is representative of fine silver workmanship by a Berber artisan/jeweler in early 1900's. I am including a photo of some of the Moroccan powder flasks in my collection. Please note that the dagger in the photo is a Spanish, 17th century, left-hand dagger. Attached Images

19th August 2022, 07:19 PM	#6
newyorkcobra Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 6	Moroccan Powder Flasks Sure Stu, be glad to! I believe you could classify each of these swords as museum quality.

27th August 2022, 05:53 PM	#9
newyorkcobra Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 6	Moroccan Powder Flasks Apparently my photos were in the wrong format! So I am going to try with a jpg format! Sorry Stu.

8th August 2022, 08:51 AM	#3
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	Hi NYCobra and welcome to the Forum. Nice pair of flasks you have there. As Ian has already said, any mention of values, or requesting valuations is taboo here. Your pair could possibly be made for the tourist market but it is a bit unusual for those to have camel bone spouts. Is the body of the flask/s hollow....check by running a piece of wire or suchlike down the spout to see if it goes all the way to the bottom. If so, then they could be made to be used, rather than just for decoration. Here is a link to some Moroccan flasks I once owned. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...oroccan+flasks If you use the Search function above you will find other posts by entering "Moroccan flasks" Stu

16th August 2022, 02:37 AM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	Nice pieces you have there!! Thanks for showing. Re the silver flask, I would not be in a hurry tp part with it, even if it has something inside which stops it being used as a flask. As you say it is a very nice example of silverwork and work of this quality is not often seen on Moroccan flasks. I see just a glimpse of a couple of Nimcha in the top left corner of your pic. Any chance of seeing a pic of the full items? Stu

21st August 2022, 05:24 PM	#7
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Beautiful workmanship on those two flasks. As well, that beehive flask being in great condition. Nice pieces all.

21st August 2022, 09:09 PM	#8
newyorkcobra Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 6	Here are the photos. I had difficulty posting them! Sorry!

27th August 2022, 11:40 PM	#10
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631 Hi NYCobra....this might help. Stu

28th August 2022, 01:31 PM	#11
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 913	Here are the photos: Attached Images

28th August 2022, 10:55 PM	#12
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	Thanks Lee. Nice pieces by the look of them. Stu