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Powder flask

Powder flask

  • Place of origin:

    France (made)

  • Date:

    1574 (dated)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Carved staghorn

  • Museum number:

    2233-1855

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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This powder flask is of carved staghorn and is made by an unknown artist in France in 1574.

The flask is decorated with a scene depicting Samson killing the lion.

Powder flasks are portable containers of wood, horn, metal, leather or ceramic used to hold the priming powder or gunpowder for firearms. They normally terminated in a metal nozzle which also served as a powder measure, closed by a plug or spring cap, and are often highly decorated.

Physical description

Powder flask made of carved staghorn, the terminal pieces having become detached, decorated with a scene depicting Samson killing the lion.

Place of Origin

France (made)

Date

1574 (dated)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Carved staghorn

Marks and inscriptions

1574

Dimensions

Length: 10.37 in

Descriptive line

Powder flask made from carved staghorn, decorated with a scene depicting Samson killing the lion, France, dated 1574

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1855. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 94
Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, p. 71

Subjects depicted

Lion; Flask; Samson

Categories

Metalwork; Tools & Equipment; Arms & Armour; Accessories

Collection code

MET

Download image
Qr_O102279
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