Military 15th c. swiss canteen to identify
 

Hello,

I have this item since a very long time and was very surprised to see a carved one very similar to mine on the web.
I read that the Landesmuseum at Zurich might have a collection of such items in its military department.
This canteen is made of calabash, gourde, with 2 rope handles.
I could not find any pictures or further informations about it.
Is there anybody who saw that before?

Thank you very much for helping
All the best
Alain

Hi Alain,

Medieval arts and crafts and arms are my main interest and I do not think that this canteen is 500 years old and Central European as those canteens usually were made of wood or leather and had small stands.
Yours rather looks like 19th c.

I have attended the Swiss Landesmuseum several times but cannot remember seeing objects like this.
Enclosed please find photos of a German canteen made of tooled leather, ca. 1500, together with its iron-bound stand, in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg, and 500 year-old canteens of wood in illustrative sources dated 1502 and 1518 respectively.

In my opinion, a military use cannot be assumed a priori as they were drinking vessels for general everyday use.

http://www.freewebs.com/mmarmoury/leatherbottels.htm


Best,
Michael