Earliest Arquebusier's and Musketeer's Trapezoidal Powder Flasks, ca. 1530-1590

[Matchlock]

A very good trapezoid flask, Nuremberg, ca. 1580, the wooden body covered with black velvet, the obverse mounts pierced wtith heart-shaped ornaments characteristic of the Nuremberg style, the nozzle cap with spring-loaded push lever, and retaining its reverse belt hook;
together with a small and early priming flask of North Italian type, ca. 1550, the top mount with high underside characteristic of earliest trapezoid flasks, the oberverse with a central medallion depicting Christ seated in an architectural landscape.
Sold Christie's.

m

[Matchlock]

Another very arachaic, mid-16th c. North Italian sample covered with embossed leather is preserved in ithe Imperial Castle Nuremberg.
It is only a bit younger than the ca. 1540's flasks shown in posts # 2 and 8 and shows a central medaillon similar to that on the flask in post # 25.

m

[Matchlock]

Hi all,


In addition to my studies on earliest trapezoid arquebusier's/musketeer's powder flasks,

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rapezoid+flask

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rapezoid+flask

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rapezoid+flask


I wish to add this important documentation here.


As I have pointed out, the obviously earliest source of period artwork concerning the use of trapezoid flasks are the representations of arquebusiers in the painting The Battle of Pavia (1525) by Ruprecht Heller, dated 1525, preserved in the National Museum Stockholm, inv.no. 272:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...rapezoid+flask


The next-in-line document seems to be the painting by Melchior Feselen, The Battle of Alesia, dated 1533 (Bavarian National Museum Munich):
along with the earliest forms of powder horns, it pictures an arquebusier with a short matchlock arquebus and a trapezoid flask at the hip.

Attached find many details from that wonderful painting that includes all sorts of weapons, edged, hafted, fireams, armor and cannon alike, thus providing perfectly detailed studies for anybody interested in early-16th c. European arms and armor!
I have a 7 MB high resolution scan of that painting; anyone wishing to receive it please send me a message together with your email but make sure that your system is able to receive a 7 MB attachment!


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Jacob de Gheyn's musketeer filling the appropriate portion of powder from one of his bandolier flasks into the barrel of his musket, 1608.

m

[Matchlock]

An almost identical trapezoid Nuremberg flask, the body covered with black velvet while in the case of my specimen it is perfect mdnight-blue (!, see images in post #21), was sold in one lot together with a remarkable North Italian/Austrian priming flask covered in hardened black leather featuring a good and detailed representation of what obviously seems to be a priest presenting the communion amidist a fight in front of a besieged town; at Christie's, London, Nov. 20, 1991 (author's photos).

The latter item was retaining an old brass inventory tag numbered 192 (possibly relating to the Princes of Liechtenstein Collection Schloss Vaduz), and the top mount was stamped with a modern row of invebtory cyphers.



The very same lot of two was resold at Bonhams, London, April 23, 2008.
Whoever bought them: feel complimented on acquiring some pretty good items of ca. 1570-1600!



Best,
m

[Matchlock]

Pieter Snayers (*1592 in Antwerp, + ca. 1667 in Brussels) was a famous and prolific painter of historic battle scenes.
Please note the battle formations as squares of musketeers, calivermen, pikemen etc., which were charateristic of that period of time.

From top:

- Battle of White Mountain near Prague, Nov. 8, 1620, the first big battle of the Thirty Years War (1618-48)

- Siege of the Fortress of Löwen near Vienna, with many close-ups of weapons and accouterments, such as matchlock muskets, musket rests, drums and lengths of matchcord kept in hand smoldering at both ends

- Siege of Vienna, June 5-12, 1619

- Battle of Lützen, Nov. 16, 1632, where the Swedish King Gustav Adolf died of musket wounds


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

The fighting order at the Battle of Lützen, Nov. 6, 1632, of both the Swedish and Imperial forces.

m

[Matchlock]

An Austrian musketeer's flask, wooden body covered with leather and mounted with iron fittings, late 16th/early 17th c., damaged but in virtually 'untouched! condition.

m