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

[Matchlock]

Two further caliverman's flasks, ca. 1590-1600, the bottom mount comprising a reservoir for spare balls;
the lower one, with etched and gilt mounts, dated 1594, preserved in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nuremberg.

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[Matchlock]

A caliverman's flask with plain wooden body, ca. 1590-1600.

And a contemporary cowhorn flask retaining its original raw silk and wool tassels, in the Legermuseum Delft.

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[Matchlock]

An unusually fine South German (Augsburg or Nuremberg) caliverman's flask, ca. 1590-1600;
the body of bleached, flattened, engraved and blackened cowhorn; a very rare feature is the fact that the mounts are made of brass, embossed, pierced, engraved punched with decorative quatrefoils; the reverse-mounted belt hook of iron.
The obverse engraved with a sunburst and typical Nuremberg style foliage, the reverse with the usual concentric circles.
The whole preserved in optimum condition.

This finely wrought flask was most probably designed for a guardsman of a small unit.

Sold Hermann Historica, April 23, 2012, after failing to sell at least in two previous auctions!


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[Matchlock]

Another very rare instance of a good-quality caliverman's leather frog, ca. 1600, very similar in make to a sample in the author's collection, see post # 8.

Displayed inaptly together with a triangular musketeer's flask, in the museum of Weissenburg/Bavaria, not far from the author's home.
Author's photos.

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[Matchlock]

A fine sample of a caliverman's frog, Nuremberg, ca. 1600, the obverse covered with a grayish velvet (obviously made for a guardsman; only the primary layer preserved, with the surface rubbed).
Please note the characteristic Nuremberg heart-shaped ornamental piercings.

The Royal Armouries Leeds; author's photos, 1997.

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[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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