Mystery item - a wrench (spanner) perhaps?

Matchlock · 24th May 2014, 04:32 PM

Hi Lee,

Heureka - I finally identified your object in discussion:
It is a wheellock spanner indeed, closely datable to ca. 1590-1600, and a historically important piece as well, of noble provenance. It was part of a caliverman's accouterments to a wheellock musket - and it was kept on the leather frog, together with the powder flask!
But there is even more to your spanner:
It was part of the accouterments of a member of the famous Trabanten-Leibgarde (body guard) of the Electors of Saxony, Christian I, † 25. September 1591,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...ctor_of_Saxony

or Christian II, † 23. June 1611,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...ctor_of_Saxony

Enjoy your important spanner!

Attached please find a photo of exactly your type of spanner, together with the fine flask and leather frog, all of high-quality craftsmanship.
This ensemble is preserved in the Rüstkammer (armory) in Dresden, Saxony - see attachments!

The other attachments depict fine Saxon flasks and their frogs from various sources: The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, from auction houses, dealers sites etc, as well as contemporary portraits of both Christian I and II, Electors of Saxony.

For more on such flasks and their frogs, please see my threads:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...man%27s+flasks

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...man%27s+flasks

Please also see my threads on wheellock spanners 1520-1650:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...llock+spanners

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...l-lock+spanner

Best,
Michael

24th May 2014, 04:32 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Lee, Heureka - I finally identified your object in discussion: It is a wheellock spanner indeed, closely datable to ca. 1590-1600, and a historically important piece as well, of noble provenance. It was part of a caliverman's accouterments to a wheellock musket - and it was kept on the leather frog, together with the powder flask! But there is even more to your spanner: It was part of the accouterments of a member of the famous Trabanten-Leibgarde (body guard) of the Electors of Saxony, Christian I, † 25. September 1591, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...ctor_of_Saxony or Christian II, † 23. June 1611, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christi...ctor_of_Saxony Enjoy your important spanner! Attached please find a photo of exactly your type of spanner, together with the fine flask and leather frog, all of high-quality craftsmanship. This ensemble is preserved in the Rüstkammer (armory) in Dresden, Saxony - see attachments! The other attachments depict fine Saxon flasks and their frogs from various sources: The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, from auction houses, dealers sites etc, as well as contemporary portraits of both Christian I and II, Electors of Saxony. For more on such flasks and their frogs, please see my threads: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...man%27s+flasks http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...man%27s+flasks Please also see my threads on wheellock spanners 1520-1650: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...-lock+spanners http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...llock+spanners http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...l-lock+spanner Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 25th May 2014 at 12:51 AM.