Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

motan · 15th July 2018, 09:54 AM

Hi Stu,
Is the hole in the copper spout round and clean, like a gun barrel?
Is it possible that you could open and close the powder flow by turning the copper spout?
I agree with Rick that the copper spout looks like a later addition, because the spout behind the copper looks normal and functional and was probably closed with a cap, originally. The copper spout was added perhaps as a decorative element, but it has been used.
As for the origin, copper studs of this type were used in West Africa and the Syrian desert too and the decoration of the copper spout looks faintly African/Saharan, but is not really a clear indication.
So, it is all about finding a similar example with known origin.

15th July 2018, 09:54 AM	#10
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Hi Stu, Is the hole in the copper spout round and clean, like a gun barrel? Is it possible that you could open and close the powder flow by turning the copper spout? I agree with Rick that the copper spout looks like a later addition, because the spout behind the copper looks normal and functional and was probably closed with a cap, originally. The copper spout was added perhaps as a decorative element, but it has been used. As for the origin, copper studs of this type were used in West Africa and the Syrian desert too and the decoration of the copper spout looks faintly African/Saharan, but is not really a clear indication. So, it is all about finding a similar example with known origin.