Uzbek Central Asian Powder flaSKS

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 19th September 2016, 03:14 AM

I have to say that after hours looking for exhibits I have turned up almost nought which is perhaps to be expected the way history has dealt its hand to Uzbekistan down the ages not least in the Soviet era. I am not sure if there is an Uzbek style of powder flask but that styles from surrounding areas including Persia and India formed the backbone of adopted flasks. I only found one other picture of vague interest of an Uzbek warrior probably pre gunpowder...and place that as an example of the paucity of such work... personally I suspect that anything that looked like a powder flask on the silk road with the appearance of gunpowder weapons would have been used by the Uzbek shooters.

Oliver Pinchot · 19th September 2016, 04:40 PM

Those gourds are for powdered tobacco.
Flasks used in the Central Asian Khanates tended to be either Persian work or locally made in Persian style; steel, wood, horn, hide are the commonest materials. There is a distinctive group which are of generally Persian form, but of brass with silver appliques. They are not common.

Kubur · 19th September 2016, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

Those gourds are for powdered tobacco.
Flasks used in the Central Asian Khanates tended to be either Persian work or locally made in Persian style; steel, wood, horn, hide are the commonest materials. There is a distinctive group which are of generally Persian form, but of brass with silver appliques. They are not common.

Thank you very much Oliver, you answered both questions. The shape is very Caucasian too and the metal and decorations are very Persian. Very interesting thank you!

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 19th September 2016, 09:25 PM

Is this a reasonable example?

Kubur · 19th September 2016, 11:07 PM

Dear Oliver,
Can I ask you for this one?
Thanks
Kubur

Oliver Pinchot · 20th September 2016, 05:29 AM

Salaam ya Ibrahiim,

We are looking at Persian forms which were adopted by many cultures, including the Ottomans, Central Asian and Caucasian groups.
In order to attribute it, it would be necessary to see closeups of the engraving on the silver mounts. That said, it's probably Caucasian, nice example.

Oliver Pinchot · 20th September 2016, 05:38 AM

This second flask is certainly Central Asian, probably Afghan work.
The technique of piercing the mounts and filling them with pitch or sealing wax and then polishing them flat is a very old one which originates in Persian shops. However, we recognize this work primarily in Afghanistan in the 19th century; it is a technique which fell out of fashion in Persia at some point, but remained very popular in Central Asia.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 20th September 2016, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

Salaam ya Ibrahiim,

We are looking at Persian forms which were adopted by many cultures, including the Ottomans, Central Asian and Caucasian groups.
In order to attribute it, it would be necessary to see closeups of the engraving on the silver mounts. That said, it's probably Caucasian, nice example.

Salaams Oliver; Thanks very much...

19th September 2016, 03:14 AM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I have to say that after hours looking for exhibits I have turned up almost nought which is perhaps to be expected the way history has dealt its hand to Uzbekistan down the ages not least in the Soviet era. I am not sure if there is an Uzbek style of powder flask but that styles from surrounding areas including Persia and India formed the backbone of adopted flasks. I only found one other picture of vague interest of an Uzbek warrior probably pre gunpowder...and place that as an example of the paucity of such work... personally I suspect that anything that looked like a powder flask on the silk road with the appearance of gunpowder weapons would have been used by the Uzbek shooters. Attached Images

19th September 2016, 04:40 PM	#2
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 464	Those gourds are for powdered tobacco. Flasks used in the Central Asian Khanates tended to be either Persian work or locally made in Persian style; steel, wood, horn, hide are the commonest materials. There is a distinctive group which are of generally Persian form, but of brass with silver appliques. They are not common. Attached Images

19th September 2016, 09:25 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Is this a reasonable example? Attached Images

19th September 2016, 11:07 PM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Dear Oliver, Can I ask you for this one? Thanks Kubur Attached Images

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

20th September 2016, 05:29 AM	#6
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 464	Salaam ya Ibrahiim, We are looking at Persian forms which were adopted by many cultures, including the Ottomans, Central Asian and Caucasian groups. In order to attribute it, it would be necessary to see closeups of the engraving on the silver mounts. That said, it's probably Caucasian, nice example.

20th September 2016, 05:38 AM	#7
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 464	This second flask is certainly Central Asian, probably Afghan work. The technique of piercing the mounts and filling them with pitch or sealing wax and then polishing them flat is a very old one which originates in Persian shops. However, we recognize this work primarily in Afghanistan in the 19th century; it is a technique which fell out of fashion in Persia at some point, but remained very popular in Central Asia.