Powder flask needs help

BANDOOK · 17th September 2016, 09:58 PM

VERY NICE AND GENUINE FLASK KUBUR,I WOULD KEEP IT NEAR A DEHUMIDYFER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET THE MOISTURE OUT THEN APPLY BEES WAX ,CHEERS

Kubur · 18th September 2016, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BANDOOK

VERY NICE AND GENUINE FLASK KUBUR,I WOULD KEEP IT NEAR A DEHUMIDYFER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET THE MOISTURE OUT THEN APPLY BEES WAX ,CHEERS

Hi Rajesh,
Thank you. The paintings are not covered by vernish and I'm afraid to destroy them if i use some wax on it...
Best Kubur

rickystl · 18th September 2016, 01:34 PM

Hi Kubur.

Nice looking flask. Even has it's original stopper, that are usually missing.
Well, we know the body is made of leather. I think I would try Richard's suggestion first. It looks like it is mostly old dirt/dust left to harden over the years. You might also try a mild soap, or saddle soap on a small area without the paintings, and slowly go from there.

Rick

Kubur · 18th September 2016, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Kubur.

Nice looking flask. Even has it's original stopper, that are usually missing.
Well, we know the body is made of leather. I think I would try Richard's suggestion first. It looks like it is mostly old dirt/dust left to harden over the years. You might also try a mild soap, or saddle soap on a small area without the paintings, and slowly go from there.

Rick

Hi Rick,
Thanks for your ideas. Yes i will go slowly and carefuly.
Then for the body made of leather, well this one is not made of leather.
It has the classic shape of the so-called camel scrotum, but it's a different material such as plaster. It is just plastered and painted papier mache. Its very common with Qajar. Look i found on line another one with a date MAHMOUD , ISFAHAN" DATED "1318 AH , 1900 AD... You have to get one for your collection!
Best, Kubur

rickystl · 2nd October 2016, 05:08 PM

Hi Kubur.

OH, my error. I thought it was leather like most of the others. Not sure how to go about cleaning this one. Maybe just a mild liquid soap (?) Appears to be just old dirt/dust. Let us know if you come up with something.

Rick

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 2nd October 2016, 06:44 PM

It is true that it is said that these are camel scrotum, powder flasks. Whether it is or is not believed... and they may be some other material ... I like the idea that camels have got in the frame...so as far as I am concerned this wonderful explanation carries water... or gunpowder whichever you think more appropriate... Clean with some wax ... it will bring up the colours.

rickystl · 2nd October 2016, 08:22 PM

Hi Ibrahiim.

I've occassionally wondered wheather the medium/larger hard leather flasks were more commonly used to carry water versus gunpowder. Sort of like a Spanish leather wine bola. (?) Of course the moulded leather would work well to carry either. My thinking was also based on the rather large opening in the Persian style flasks. Seems more suited for drinking water than pouring powder.
Here are three hard leather flasks. The two larger ones have the wide opening and are just large enough to act as a small canteen to carry a reasonable amount of water. The smaller Arab style flask (associated with the camel scrotum style) with it's narrow, tapered neck seems better suited to pour gunpowder into a measure or barrel. And it's way to small to act as a canteen.

That said, many of the Ethno flasks/horns tend to have larger diameter pour spouts than their European counterparts. Especially the Moroccan horns. One theory I have for this is that an approximate amount of powder was simply pourded into the palm of the other hand, instead of a pre-formed measure, before inserting into the barrel.

Rick

2nd October 2016, 08:22 PM	#7
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Ibrahiim. I've occassionally wondered wheather the medium/larger hard leather flasks were more commonly used to carry water versus gunpowder. Sort of like a Spanish leather wine bola. (?) Of course the moulded leather would work well to carry either. My thinking was also based on the rather large opening in the Persian style flasks. Seems more suited for drinking water than pouring powder. Here are three hard leather flasks. The two larger ones have the wide opening and are just large enough to act as a small canteen to carry a reasonable amount of water. The smaller Arab style flask (associated with the camel scrotum style) with it's narrow, tapered neck seems better suited to pour gunpowder into a measure or barrel. And it's way to small to act as a canteen. That said, many of the Ethno flasks/horns tend to have larger diameter pour spouts than their European counterparts. Especially the Moroccan horns. One theory I have for this is that an approximate amount of powder was simply pourded into the palm of the other hand, instead of a pre-formed measure, before inserting into the barrel. Rick Attached Images

17th September 2016, 09:58 PM	#1
BANDOOK Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND Posts: 627	VERY NICE AND GENUINE FLASK KUBUR,I WOULD KEEP IT NEAR A DEHUMIDYFER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO GET THE MOISTURE OUT THEN APPLY BEES WAX ,CHEERS

18th September 2016, 01:34 PM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Kubur. Nice looking flask. Even has it's original stopper, that are usually missing. Well, we know the body is made of leather. I think I would try Richard's suggestion first. It looks like it is mostly old dirt/dust left to harden over the years. You might also try a mild soap, or saddle soap on a small area without the paintings, and slowly go from there. Rick

2nd October 2016, 05:08 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Kubur. OH, my error. I thought it was leather like most of the others. Not sure how to go about cleaning this one. Maybe just a mild liquid soap (?) Appears to be just old dirt/dust. Let us know if you come up with something. Rick

2nd October 2016, 06:44 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	It is true that it is said that these are camel scrotum, powder flasks. Whether it is or is not believed... and they may be some other material ... I like the idea that camels have got in the frame...so as far as I am concerned this wonderful explanation carries water... or gunpowder whichever you think more appropriate... Clean with some wax ... it will bring up the colours.