New addition to the collection. Powder flask from Afghanistan

The collection of hunting gear in our museum has been replenished with a valuable and interesting acquisition. One of the employees presented a wooden powder flask from the late 19th century from Afghanistan to the funds. Similar powder flasks were used by local residents to load ancient matchlock and flintlock guns.

The wooden powder flask has the shape of an eggplant. The main part where the gunpowder was stored is disc-shaped. The outer side of the powder flask is decorated using carving technique with a traditional Central Asian ornament with plant motifs. In the upper part of the powder flask, under the elongated metal neck, there is a figured plate, decorated with perforations, which performed both a decorative and utilitarian function of fixing the neck.

On the reverse side, which turns out to be near the owner’s body when the powder flask is worn, covered with light brown leather, secured with small nails, two loops of copper wire are attached, connected to each other by a thin rawhide strap, which probably served as a suspension.