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

Matchlock · 15th March 2009, 05:09 PM

Details from two paintings by Sebastiaen Vrancx, ca. 1625-30, preserved at the Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium.

From roelipilami's excellent photostream on www.flickr.com - thank you so much, roelipilami!

Michael

Matchlock · 15th March 2009, 05:13 PM

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

Michael

Matchlock · 27th March 2012, 04:21 PM

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 · 2nd April 2012, 03:20 PM

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 · 9th June 2012, 06:59 PM

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 · 9th June 2012, 07:28 PM

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 · 9th June 2012, 07:45 PM

For a comprehensive thread on matchcord, please see

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

m

15th March 2009, 05:09 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A caliverman's frog and flask, ca. 1625-30 Details from two paintings by Sebastiaen Vrancx, ca. 1625-30, preserved at the Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels, Belgium. From roelipilami's excellent photostream on www.flickr.com - thank you so much, roelipilami! Michael Attached Images

15th March 2009, 05:13 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Two More Thirty Years War Battle Scenes by Sebastiaen Vrancx Note the unvarnished stocks and blued iron parts of both the wheel-lock and matchlock muskets. Michael Attached Images

27th March 2012, 04:21 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	One of the Finest Calivermen's Flask in Existence 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 Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 27th March 2012 at 09:11 PM.

2nd April 2012, 03:20 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	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 Attached Images

9th June 2012, 06:59 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	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 Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 9th June 2012 at 07:44 PM.

9th June 2012, 07:28 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Two more more close-ups, the first depicting a white cowhorn flask. Please note the cord and tassels consisting of silk and wool! m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 9th June 2012 at 07:47 PM.

9th June 2012, 07:45 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	For a comprehensive thread on matchcord, please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15668 m