Firearm Accessory thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Firearm Accessory

first half 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Lahore (made)

Powder flasks were essential to the operation of all black powder firearms. They usually came in two sizes, the largest like this one, containing coarse grain powder for the main charge in the barrel.

This flask was almost certainly used in association with a hunting or sporting weapon, where such accessories were often highly decorated or made of high quality materials to reflect the status of the owner.


Object details

Categories
Arms & Armour
SCRAN
India Museum
Object type
Firearm accessory
Materials and techniques
Nautilus shell with carved mother of pearl panels applied with metal pins and a turned finial
Brief description
Powder flask made from the shell of the pearly nautilus with red silk cord attachments, Lahore, first half of 19th century.
Physical description
Powder flask made from the shell of the pearly nautilus with carved mother of pearl panels applied with metal pins and a turned finial to which red silk cord attachments are fixed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 105mm
  • Width: 105mm
  • Depth: 160mm
Credit line
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879
Production
Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879
Summary
Powder flasks were essential to the operation of all black powder firearms. They usually came in two sizes, the largest like this one, containing coarse grain powder for the main charge in the barrel.

This flask was almost certainly used in association with a hunting or sporting weapon, where such accessories were often highly decorated or made of high quality materials to reflect the status of the owner.
Bibliographic references
  • Egerton, Wilbraham, An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India, London, 1880 p.133
  • Jackson, Anna and Ji Wei (eds.) with Rosemary Crill, Ainsley M. Cameron and Nicholas Barnard, compiled by the Palace Museum, translated by Yuan Hong, Qi Yue and Liu Ran. The Splendour of India' Royal Courts : Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Beijing: the Forbidden City Publishing House, 2013. Text in English and Chinese. ISBN 9787513403917. pps. 196-197
  • Swallow, D., Stronge, S., Crill, R., Koezuka, T., editor and translator, "The Art of the Indian Courts. Miniature Painting and Decorative Arts", Victoria & Albert Museum and NHK Kinki Media Plan, 1993. p.88, cat. no.73
  • Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 133, Cat. No. 688
Other numbers
  • 688 - Egerton Catalogue Number
  • 8373-'55 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
2598(IS)

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15479/firearm-accessory-unknown/
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