Powder Flask

ca. 1575–85

Not on view

The only known example of its kind, this flask is constructed of a wooden core, which is overlaid with a copper-alloy sheet that was chased in low relief, in the same manner as the stocks of a small group of firearms associated with the court of Duke Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1528–1589) and thought to have been made in his dominions. The group includes three wheellock pistols that are preserved in the Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin (inv. unknown), the Kestner Museum, Hannover (inv. WM I. 227), and the Royal Armouries, Leeds (inv. XII.1176), respectively; a wheellock gun in the Anton-Ulrich-Museum, Brunswick (inv. unknown); and a wheel- and matchlock gun in the Tøjhusmuseet, Copenhagen (inv. B 70). As with most of these weapons, the flask prominently features the duke’s monogram, the meaning of which remains uncertain. Even though it was probably intended to complement a firearm, its decoration does not appear to match closely any of the examples known to survive.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: Powder Flask
Date: ca. 1575–85
Culture: German
Medium: Copper alloy, iron alloy
Dimensions: H. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm); W. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); D. 2 9/16 in. (6.6 cm); D. of dome 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm); Wt. 7.4 oz.. (210 g)
Classification: Firearms Accessories-Flasks & Primers
Credit Line: Gift of Lisa Pioerron de Mondesir, 2014
Object Number: 2014.214
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Hand-and-a-Half Sword, Steel, copper alloy, probably German — Hand-and-a-Half Sword
probably German
ca. 1400–1430

Powder Flask, Ivory, silver, gold, steel, German — Powder Flask
German
late 17th century

Powder Flask, Ivory, copper alloy, German — Powder Flask
German
ca. 1670–80

Powder Flask and Wheellock Spanner Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony, Brass, gold, steel, wood, velvet, gold-threaded cord, German, Saxony — Powder Flask and Wheellock Spanner Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony
German, Saxony
ca. 1600

Crossbow of Count Ulrich V of Württemberg (1413–1480), Heinrich Heid von Winterthur probably Swiss, Wood (European hornbeam), horn, animal sinew, staghorn, birch bark, iron alloy, copper alloy, pigment, German, probably Stuttgart — Crossbow of Count Ulrich V of Württemberg (1413–1480)
Heinrich Heid von Winterthur
dated 1460

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.