Gallery 357, European Art 1500-1850, third floor
Main Building
Gallery 357, European Art 1500-1850, third floor
Main Building
This intricately wrought flask carried gunpowder, of which the thumb press on the nozzle would release a measured amount. The flask is most notable, however, for its masterful iron ornament, placing it among the most splendid examples of shooting equipment of its time.
The embossed scenes depict the prophet Isaiah, the coats of arms of Saxony (top) and Denmark (right), crossed swords, and the interlaced initials "AA." These identify the owner of the flask as Prince-Elector Augustus I of Saxony (reigned 1553 to 1586) and his wife, Anna of Denmark, for whom the flask was a New Year's gift, presented as part of a set of hunting implements. The etched decoration on the back shows a rampant lion.
Gallery 357, European Art 1500-1850, third floor
Title: | Priming Flask Gunpowder Flask, Powder Flask |
Date: | c. 1567 |
Artist: | Master Thomas der Schwertfeger (probably Thomas Rücker) (German (active Augsburg), 1532–1606) |
Medium: | Iron alloy (steel), partially embossed, chiseled, punched, etched, blackened, blued and gilded; textile (dyed green and braided), with copper alloy threads |
Dimensions: | Height: 5 3/16 inches (13.1 cm) Width (loops included): 4 1/2 inches (11.4 cm) Diameter: 3 9/16 inches (9 cm) Depth: 2 1/2 inches (6.3 cm) Weight: 0.6 lb. (250g) |
Classification: | Containers |
Credit Line: | Gift of the Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1991 |
Accession Number: | 1991-9-3 |
Geography: | Made in Augsburg, Germany, Europe |
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Gallery 357, European Art 1500-1850, third floor
Main Building