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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 King David and Bathsheba derive from the Old Testament.
| Artist / Maker | Germany, late 16th Century |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1580 |
| Culture / Origin | Germany, late 16th Century |
| Medium | staghorn (two branches) carved with relief, scene of David and Bathsheba; iron suspension loop; mounts missing |
| Dimensions | Overall: 16.9 x 11.1 cm (6 5/8 x 4 3/8 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
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