Leather and Silver Powder Flask – Tunis, late 19 C.

A very rare and unusual form of powder flask from Tunis.  Heavy  leather with two down curving horns, mounted with well made silver collar and horn tips chased  in Ottoman style. The side seams are covered with silver strips lightly engraved. A later gold colored baldric hanging thread.

Height 14 inches. Width 7 inches. very good condition

Very few exemplars are known. For a similar ones (without the silver mounts) see:

C. Stone “The Glossary of the Construction Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor” page 233 Fig 288 # 7, now at the Metropolitan Museum. Access number 36.25.2387

Pitt Rivers Museum. Oxford UK. Access number 1900.3.9