Fish made of brass

[corrado26]

I have this item with a total length of ca. 150 mm in my collection since a very long time but until today nobody could tell me what this might be or for which purpose it has been made. It looks as if it comes from India and may contain some kind of liquid or powder. Perhapy somebody here is able to identify this piece?

[M ELEY]

Very awesome item! I'd lay odds that it probably held a liquid, like a wine flask. Black powder and screw-off caps don't go well together (the grinding force of the uncapping could produce friction. Just my guess, but I can't think of any brass powder flasks that didn't just have a smooth cap.:shrug:

[M ELEY]

I went to a large antique mall today and saw a flask (not shaped like a fish!) that had a twist/screw cap. It was listed as an old flask, but who knows.

[corrado26]

Obviously nobody has an idea what this flask could be made for

[M ELEY]

Well, my last post got auto-corrected. I meant to say it very well might be an oil flask.

[corrado26]

Oil bottle, that's entirely possible. But why does someone carry an oil bottle with them?

[M ELEY]

Good question! I know the truly ancient types of oil flasks were used for ritual/ceremonial functions, like this one here-

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/153529

Hate to say 'google search', but it might turn up something. The oil flask I saw at the shop was very plain and more typically bottle-shaped. Do you know the origin of yours? East Indian? Arabic? Were oil flasks ever used for gun parts? Munitions? (Hey, I'm a bladed weapon guy, so forgive my ignorance!)