Unusual Artifacts: The Nautilus Powder Flask, 19th C.

Nautilus Powder Flask
Pakistan, Nineteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

 

The elegant but impractical black powder firearms of the Nineteenth Century required the constant reapplication of powder to make them shoot.  So, powder flasks were an important part of their operation.  Powder flasks usually came in two sizes.  The largest size was used to hold coarse grain powder which was employed for the main charge in the barrel.

Here’s an example of the type of powder flask which was used for coarse powder. This flask was almost certainly used with a hunting or sporting weapon.  In those cases, more so than in war, these accessories were more decorated and made of higher quality materials to reflect the status of the owner.  In this case, the powder flask is made from the shell of the pearly nautilus with carved mother-of-earl panels applied with metal pins and a turned finial to which red silk cord attachments are fixed.

It was made in Lahore, Pakistan during the first half of the Nineteenth Century.

The Home Beautiful: A Dangerous Door Lock, 1761

Door Lock, 1761
William Walls
Presented to King George III, 1765
The Royal Collection

This attractive piece of hardware holds a deadly secret. Handsomely crafted of steel, brass and wood in 1761 by inventor William Walls, this lock features a charming Asian-inspired scene on its plate, and, more curiously, two pistols.


Yes, pistols. The lock was so designed that should it be tampered with or should someone try to open it without the correct key, bells (now missing) would sound and two tiny pistols would fire small bullets through the holes on either side of the keyhole. The barrels of the flintlock guns were accessible from the reverse so that they could be refilled and set in between shootings.

Though ingenious, the lock was not fool proof. In fact, the danger of such a device was the simple fact that if an unsuspecting innocent person should turn the proper key in the wrong way, or should accidentally fumble with the lock as one often does when in a hurry, he would immediately be shot for no good reason.

William Walls presented the lock to King George III in 1765. George III appreciated the lock as a scientific study, but it’s unclear whether or not the device was installed in any door. If it was, chances are, it was not set to fire.

Mastery of Design: King Edward VII’s Punch Dagger, 1876

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Images Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Punch Dagger
Indian, 1876
Gold, Steel, Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds
Presented to King Edward VII while Prince of Wales.
The Royal Collection

This is not a dagger for Mr. Punch though I’m sure he wouldn’t mind having it. This rare weapon is called a “Punch Dagger” because of the method by which it is used. The dagger is gripped in an upright fist by the double crossbars. So, why did King Edward VII have such a weapon—especially one that is encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds?

It was a gift. It is customary for the monarch to be presented with lavish gifts from high-ranking officials in the Empire during an official State visit. This jewel-studded dagger with gold crossbars and a steel blade was presented to King Edward VII while still Prince of Wales when he met the Maharaja of Rutlam on March 9, 1876 at the Residency at Indore. The Prince was there as the guest of the Maharaja Holkar of Indore.

The elegant, but deadly, item is inscribed H.R.H. PRINCE OF WALES / RUTLAM A.D. 1876.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Small Jeweled Court Sword and Sheath, 1757

Not intended to slice the ears off of enemies, this sword was designed in England in 1757 for wear as a court or dress accessory. The hilt of this small ceremonial sword is silver gilt and set with table-cut and rose-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds in a foliate pattern.

From around 1640, light swords with short, flexible, pointed blades appeared. These were created for use in the court as part of a dress uniform, and also were made in response to new fencing techniques. Such weapons were worn with both civilian clothes as well as dress uniforms as “small swords” to denote status.

These were considered items of male jewelry. By the time this sword was made, elaborate swords with gold and silver hilts, mounted with precious stones and fine enameling, were actually being produced by jewelers as opposed to weapon-masters. Very often these were presented by a monarch for distinguished military and naval service.

This sword has long been believed to have been owned by Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813). Middleton’s long career included service in the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and acting as First Lord of the Admiralty during the Trafalgar Campaign (1805).

Sword
English, 1757
This and all related images:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Unusual Artifacts: The Nautilus Powder Flask, 19th C.

Nautilus Powder Flask
Pakistan, Nineteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

 

The elegant but impractical black powder firearms of the Nineteenth Century required the constant reapplication of powder to make them shoot.  So, powder flasks were an important part of their operation.  Powder flasks usually came in two sizes.  The largest size was used to hold coarse grain powder which was employed for the main charge in the barrel.

Here’s an example of the type of powder flask which was used for coarse powder.  This flask was almost certainly used with a hunting or sporting weapon.  In those cases, more so than in war, these accessories were more decorated and made of higher quality materials to reflect the status of the owner.  In this case, the powder flask is made from the shell of the pearly nautilus with carved mother-of-earl panels applied with metal pins and a turned finial to which red silk cord attachments are fixed.

It was made in Lahore, Pakistan during the first half of the Nineteenth Century.

Card of the Day: The Sword of State and the Sword of Mercy

Let’s continue our look at the “stuff” that’s used in the British Coronations—properly called “Regalia”—via the Churchman Cigarette Company’s 1935 Silver Jubilee card series. This one, the thirty-third, shows two of the swords which are kept in the Jewel House at the Tower of London and which are used in the coronation ceremony. These are the Sword of State and the Sword of Mercy.

Sword of
State

There are, actually, five swords now kept in the Tower. The largest of these is the Sword of State, This large ceremonial weapon has a blade of about thirty-two inches long. The grip and the pommel are fashioned of gilt metal. The grip bears designs of the portcullis, fleur-de-lis, and harp. The pommel is adorned with the thistle, orb, and other Monarch-like emblems. The sword’s scabbard itself is lined with crimson velvet and decorated with gilt metal plates bearing designs of a similar nature to the swords itself, in high relief.

Sword of Mercy

The next sword is the strangest of the lot. It is known as the "Curtana," or the "Sword of Mercy,” and is thought to be the sword of Edward the Confessor. What’s curious about it is its blunted point which is meant to represent the quality of mercy of the sovereign. According to the mythological history of the weapon, the point of the sword was broken off by an angel to prevent a wrongful killing. I don’t know about all that, but, the symbolism does make sense.

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Small Jeweled Court Sword and Sheath, 1757

Not intended to slice the ears off of enemies, this sword was designed in England in 1757 for wear as a court or dress accessory. The hilt of this small ceremonial sword is silver gilt and set with table-cut and rose-cut diamonds, rubies and emeralds in a foliate pattern.

From around 1640, light swords with short, flexible, pointed blades appeared. These were created for use in the court as part of a dress uniform, and also were made in response to new fencing techniques. Such weapons were worn with both civilian clothes as well as dress uniforms as “small swords” to denote status.

These were considered items of male jewelry. By the time this sword was made, elaborate swords with gold and silver hilts, mounted with precious stones and fine enameling, were actually being produced by jewelers as opposed to weapon-masters. Very often these were presented by a monarch for distinguished military and naval service.

This sword has long been believed to have been owned by Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813). Middleton’s long career included service in the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and acting as First Lord of the Admiralty during the Trafalgar Campaign (1805).

Sword
English, 1757
This and all related images:
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Unusual Artifacts: King Edward VII’s Punch Dagger, 1876

Punch Dagger
Indian, 1876
Gold, Steel, Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds
Presented to King Edward VII while Prince of Wales.
The Royal Collection

This is not a dagger for Mr. Punch though I’m sure he wouldn’t mind having it. This rare weapon is called a “Punch Dagger” because of the method by which it is used. The dagger is gripped in an upright fist by the double crossbars. So, why did King Edward VII have such a weapon—especially one that is encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds?

It was a gift. It is customary for the monarch to be presented with lavish gifts from high-ranking officials in the Empire during an official State visit. This jewel-studded dagger with gold crossbars and a steel blade was presented to King Edward VII while still Prince of Wales when he met the Maharaja of Rutlam on March 9, 1876 at the Residency at Indore. The Prince was there as the guest of the Maharaja Holkar of Indore.

The elegant, but deadly, item is inscribed H.R.H. PRINCE OF WALES / RUTLAM A.D. 1876.