117

Gunpowder flask in tortoiseshell, Italy or France, late 17th - early 18th century

Height x width x depth: 6 x 18 x 8 cm. Weight: 265 g
structure (Testudinidae spp.) and bronze.
The central part, consisting of the shell, acts as the body of the container, while the measuring spout and the coupling are made of bronze.
The flattened pear shape recalls the most popular models in Europe between the late 17th and 18th centuries, a period when powder flasks were not only functional tools for containing and measuring gunpowder, but also valuable objects, symbols of social status, and accessories linked to the world of aristocratic hunting.
The use of tortoiseshell, a rare and precious material, combined with bronze, suggests European production, most likely Italian or French, intended for a wealthy client. Overall, the object combines aesthetic refinement and practical functionality, testifying to the elegance and sophistication of the applied arts in the late 17th and 18th centuries.
This lot, accompanied by an expertise issued by Ce.S.Ar Centro studi archeometici, is only available for sale with shipments within the European Union. (expertise Ce.S.Ar. 2025-250)
Provenance:
Count Luigi Rigi Luperti collection.
26/01/2026 23:19:14
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€ 1.000,00 / 1.500,00
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600,00 €
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Live auction 369

SILVER ANTIQUES, IVORIES, WUNDERKAMMER - Including selected Works of Art from the Count Luigi Rigi Luperti Collection

Palazzo Caetani Lovatelli, thu 19 February 2026
SINGLE SESSION 19/02/2026 Hours 15:00
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