Earliest Arquebusier's and Musketeer's Trapezoidal Powder Flasks, ca. 1530-1590

[Matchlock]

One more close-up of the Vienna arquebuses; their stocks were originally covered with velvet of which only the backing layer has survived, due to bad rubbing.

Following:

The earlliest known surviving trapezoidal arquebusier's flasks, North Italy, ca. 1530-40, in the Stadtmusem Munich (Munich Arsenal) and author's collection. The way of embossment on the washers of the rings for suspension, the wavy line ornament decoration on the nozzle, the nozzle lid and spring wrought integrally and showing the characteristic wide bow known from springs illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, and the serpent-shaped horizontal cut-off are features that can be found on the Vienna arquebuses and on other arquebuses of ca. 1530-40. The reincorcing iron mounts on the edges are of comparatively thin iron, attached by many small nails and punched in imitaion of a stitching pattern.
The leather pouch on the obverse was most certainly not designed to contain balls but small accouterments.

For further information and samples please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...s+powder+flask


Bottom: two instances of earliest trapezoidal flasks showing their reverse-mounted belt hooks; from paintings on the Conquest of Tunisia by Charles V, 1535, preserved in Coburg and Madrid respectively.

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