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Powder Flask
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Powder flasks are small, portable containers designed to hold gunpowder. From the 1400s to the 1800s, powder flasks were indispensable for charging and priming firearms of all types. Without powder flasks firearms were of little use to their owners. Many highly decorated flasks rank as works of art. During the 1500s, they were frequently decorated with images of famous historical figures. Here the figures of Judith and Holofernes derive from the Old Testament.
| Artist / Maker | Germany |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1570 |
| Culture / Origin | Germany |
| Medium | staghorn (two branches) carved with relief scene of Judith and Holofernes; mounts missing |
| Dimensions | Overall: 15.9 x 12.1 cm (6 1/4 x 4 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Medieval Art |
| Type | Arms and Armor |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
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