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

[Matchlock]

Note the unvarnished stocks and blued iron parts of both the wheel-lock and matchlock muskets.

Michael

[Matchlock]

With gilt-copper mounts, and retaining its original leather frog covered with gold-embroidered textiles, ca, 1590, made for a high-ranking officer of the Trabanten-Leibgarde (body guard) of Christian I or II, Elector of Saxony; provenance: the Royal Saxon Collections, Dresden.

The carved representation is the standard motif found on all Saxon calivermen's flasks, the pikeman.

Preserved in the Met, NY.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

A very fine and large example of a caliverman's cowhorn flask, Nuremberg, ca. 1595-1618, overall length 37 cm.

The biblical scene of Judith with the head of Holofernes is often found on the flattened cowhorn bodies of Nuremberg flasks. The engraving is of good quality and its blackening as well as the patina of the iron parts are perfectly preserved. This dark patina comes quite close in impact to the originally blued surfaces.
The reverse of the flask shows a 17th c. arsenal mark, A 1, and what most probably was the owner's initials, LZ in somewhat clumsy script.

Although it retains its long hook (actually not a 'belt' hook but for attaching the flask to the leather frog) this flask is not perfect: the horizontal cut-off is missing from the top mount base plate, its spring is still present.
The bottom close-up of another flask of this type shows what the srcrolled cut-off lever looked like.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Calivermen with their light matchlock gun (the caliver), the characteristic flat and curved powder flask carried attached to the leather frog by means of the reverse-side hook, and a man's portion of matchcord.

From Jacob de Gehyn's famous exercise manual Wapenhandelinghe, 1607-08.

m

[Matchlock]

Two more more close-ups, the first depicting a white cowhorn flask.

Please note the cord and tassels consisting of silk and wool!

m

[Matchlock]

For a comprehensive thread on matchcord, please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15668



m

[Matchlock]

Nuremberg calivermen's flaks, late 16th to early 17th c., author's collection.

Most of them retaining their original cord, and two of them are even complete together with their extremely rare original leather frogs (for close ups, see posts #8 and #9 above).

The flask at the bottom, with the wooden body painted red, is of unusually fine Nuremberg make and, as a very rare extra, combines a ball rerservoir in the bottom mount. It is also preserved complete with its original leather frog, fitted with a pouch containing a compartment for four paper cartridges (three of which are still there, one displayed separately in another of my glass cases!) and a portion of matchcord! The original leather straps (damaged) can be seen next to it.

Again, see more in posts #8 and 9.


m