A silver priming flask, Caucasus, dated 1275 AH/1858-59 AD

Philippe Missillier Collection no.136C

inscriptions

undeciphered inscription in a Caucasian language

'1275' (1858-59)

‘amal-i abash(?) amir khan, 'The work of Abash(?) Amir Khan'

The group of Caucasian powder flasks to which the present example belongs are characterised by their flattened form and silver mounts with inlaid niello. A powder flask from this group is in the Royal Armouries, London (inv. no.XXVIF.1125; Richardson 2015, p.99), made with silver gilt mounts decorated with niello, with a section of buffalo horn visible between the upper and lower mounts. Another similar silver mounted powder horn is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no.32.75.284), also with a section of horn showing between the two mounts.

The present powder horn is unusual in being silver throughout, and in being signed and dated, although the maker is not otherwise attested. A small powder horn also fully covered in silver with niello is in the Stibbert Collection, Florence (inv. no.6520; Civita 2014, p.126, no.40).