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

Matchlock · 25th February 2009, 05:24 PM

The larger frog of yellowish color, Nuremberg, ca. 1580, the plicated pouch retaining a beech wood compartment drilled for four paper cartridges two of which are still present, the lead balls now oxidized to a greyish white, as well as some tow and a portion of matchcord, each preserved in its separate leather compartment; together with a caliverman's flask, Nuremberg, ca. 1580, and of unusually good quality, the wooden body retaining much of its original red paint and fitted with well wrought iron mounts, the bottom mount containing a very rare additional ball reservoir with a spring loaded lid and one ball still present, now oxidized to a greyish white.

The smaller frog of grey suede, Nuremberg, ca. 1600, the pouch probably meant for reserve balls, the reverse with an old inventory number in red ink; together with a plain caliverman's flask, Nuremberg, early 17th century, the blackened body of fir wood with plain and thin iron mounts.

Displayed together with two musketeers' bandoliers, ca. 1600, and a bundle of original matchcord, all from my collection; more on these rare accouterments to follow soon.

400 year old fragile leather and textile items range among the greatest rarissimae.

Michael

Matchlock · 25th February 2009, 05:34 PM

More details of the better quality frog, plus two good Nuremberg caliverman's flasks, ca. 1580's to 1600, the wooden bodies covered with tooled blackened leather, retaining their reverse frog hooks; from my collection.

Michael

Matchlock · 14th March 2009, 07:57 PM

Another Nuremberg Schützenflasche, late 16th century, the frog hook damaged at the tip.

Michael

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

25th February 2009, 05:24 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Caliverman's Flasks and Their Leather Frogs in my Collection The larger frog of yellowish color, Nuremberg, ca. 1580, the plicated pouch retaining a beech wood compartment drilled for four paper cartridges two of which are still present, the lead balls now oxidized to a greyish white, as well as some tow and a portion of matchcord, each preserved in its separate leather compartment; together with a caliverman's flask, Nuremberg, ca. 1580, and of unusually good quality, the wooden body retaining much of its original red paint and fitted with well wrought iron mounts, the bottom mount containing a very rare additional ball reservoir with a spring loaded lid and one ball still present, now oxidized to a greyish white. The smaller frog of grey suede, Nuremberg, ca. 1600, the pouch probably meant for reserve balls, the reverse with an old inventory number in red ink; together with a plain caliverman's flask, Nuremberg, early 17th century, the blackened body of fir wood with plain and thin iron mounts. Displayed together with two musketeers' bandoliers, ca. 1600, and a bundle of original matchcord, all from my collection; more on these rare accouterments to follow soon. 400 year old fragile leather and textile items range among the greatest rarissimae. Michael Attached Images

25th February 2009, 05:34 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	More details of the better quality frog, plus two good Nuremberg caliverman's flasks, ca. 1580's to 1600, the wooden bodies covered with tooled blackened leather, retaining their reverse frog hooks; from my collection. Michael Attached Images

14th March 2009, 07:57 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Another Nuremberg Schützenflasche, late 16th century, the frog hook damaged at the tip. Michael Attached Images

15th March 2009, 05:09 PM	#4
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	#5
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	#6
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	#7
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