French powder flask, "poor boy version"

[Powder Flask Collector]

We all know the elaborate powder flasks made in Sheffield with a body made of copper or brass.

Today I can show you a powder flask that is typically French in terms of decoration.
It is the cheaper version of the well-known powder flasks made of brass or copper. The flask body is made of zinc sheet and depicts a dying deer as a motif. It is, so to speak, the "poor boy version" of the well-known powder flasks from “good houses”. Plain common top with outside spring and adjustable charger. (Ryling number 962)

 

[TDM]

Very nice one. I like it!

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

One more of the french flasks with a hunting type of decoration

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

Hunter decoration (typical french type)

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

A flask, I was not able to find in the Riling

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

All these flask are of the cheap type with a zinc body

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

2 flasks with hunting dogs





The parforce hunting horn seems to be typical for french flask decoration

 

[TDM]

I like them all!

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Very nice and interesting collection !

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

In contrast to these "poor boy" flasks here you can see two flasks (with hunting decoration) from well known french manufactures


J.N.N. A PARIS


J. n. n. a Paris

 

[Colonial Boy]

Very, very nice and informative also. Always enjoy your posts.

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

All these flask are of the cheap type with a zinc body

They are all beautiful things, though. Oh dear... I feel another collection coming on!

 

[BuffaloSoldier]

Very nice pix, may have to start looking harder at them!

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

One more of these formerly cheap zinc powder flasks formed like a horn.


The body had been coated with a brownish varnish that looks like a copper patina.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Thank you, @Powder Flask Collector , for showing these remarkable flasks! I like all of them!

I noted the coiled “hunter’s horn” on these flasks but had not heard the term, “parforce horn” before, and had to look it up. It’s good for the brain, to keep learning.

One question… the embossed scenes on these flasks show a lot of flintlocks. Is that just an artistic tradition, or do these flasks date back to the pre-percussion era? I had thought the two-piece sheet metal flasks were developed well into the 19th century, but I didn’t really know.

Thank you!

Notchy Bob

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

Hi Bob

You are right. These flasks have been made after the flintlock time. But european hunters are and have been rather conservative. They carry on with old traditions.

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

In contrast to the cheap zinc flask - horn an english powder horn with a copper flask body made by Dixon and sons. Patent savety charger.

 

[Powder Flask Collector]

One more french flask with zinc body. Fox in a trap.

 

[TDM]

Very Nice!

 

[Mle1822]

Interesting compared to this flask from the Military Museum in Bruxelles.