CALIVERMAN's Powder Flasks and Their Leather Frogs, Nuremberg, ca. 1580-1620

[Matchlock]

Two more fine German Schützenflaschen (caliverman's flasks), the first most probably Saxony, with natural cowhorn body, ca. 1600, the other Augsburg or Nuremberg, same period of time, the edged brass body completely copper-gilt (fire gilding), the frog hook broken off and missing.

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[Matchlock]

Two more of the Saxon flask with the elaborately pierced and gilt mounts.


And the gilt-mounted Augsburg or Nuremberg flask, its body made of copper-gilt brass throughout.


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[Matchlock]

More of this stunning flask in the North Italian manner.
I seems like there is a central ball compartment in the bottom mount.

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[Matchlock]

Jacob de Gheyn's caliverman (Schütze) filling a definite portion of powder from his horn (note the frog hook!) into the barrel of his caliver (Schützenrohr), 1608.

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[Matchlock]

Pieter Snayers (*1592 in Antwerp, + ca. 1667 in Brussels) was a famous and prolific painter of historic battle scenes.
Please note the battle formations as squares of musketeers, calivermen, pikemen etc., which were charateristic of that period of time.

From top:

- Battle of White Mountain near Prague, Nov. 8, 1620, the first big battle of the Thirty Years War (1618-48)

- Siege of the Fortress of Löwen near Vienna, with many close-ups of weapons and accouterments, such as matchlock muskets, musket rests, bandoliers, drums and two lengths of matchcord kept in hand smoldering at both ends

- Siege of Vienna, June 5-12, 1619

- Battle of Lützen, Nov. 16, 1632, where the Swedish King Gustav Adolf died of musket wounds


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

The fighting order at the Battle of Lützen, Nov. 16, 1632, of both the Swedish and Imperial forces.

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[Matchlock]

This finely made Nuremberg specimen I photographed at an auction viewing in 2009.

Please also note the close-ups of the original woollen tassels of another caliverman's flask.


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