Mysterious powder flask

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This is a delightful item although finding a similar pattern flask is difficult. I have seen other uses in the line of birds.. It seems rather impractical as a powder flask but on that I cannot be certain. Northern India turned out a lot of bird decorated items ...here's a finial in brass (on a grey background)...and other interpretations of birds. My favourite is a Barutdan from Central Asia..with a Turquoise eye.