Priming Flask (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Firearms were introduced to India in the 14th century, forever changing the ways Indians fought and hunted. Flasks like this ornate example held the gunpowder used to “prime” a musket. Pressing the steel level along its top opens a hole at the end, through which a small amount of powder was dispensed into the musket’s flashpan or touchhole. Once lit, this priming powder detonated the main charge powder, firing the weapon’s projectile. The elaborate motifs depicting predators and their prey suit this flask’s use in armed combat or hunting.
Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Paul Mellon
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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