A powder horn with a depiction of Lucretia - image-1
A powder horn with a depiction of Lucretia - image-2
A powder horn with a depiction of Lucretia - image-1A powder horn with a depiction of Lucretia - image-2

Lot 28 Dα

A powder horn with a depiction of Lucretia

Auction 1182 - overview Cologne
15.07.2021, 11:00 - The Exceptional Bernard De Leye Collection
Estimate: 2.000 € - 3.000 €
Result: 37.500 € (incl. premium)
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A powder horn with a depiction of Lucretia

Carved stag horn with gilt bronze mountings. Decorated on one side with a nude figure of Lucretia plunging a dagger into her chest from above, beneath a rounded arch. With grotesque creatures and two owls at her feet. H 17.5 cm.
South Germany, circa 1600.

Powder flasks or horns are containers made of wood, horn, metal, leather or ceramics, which served to hold the priming powder or gunpowder for firearms. On the lid there is a closable spout, which also serves as a powder measure. A leather belt was passed through the eyelets on the side. Since the flasks were worn on the body, carved or engraved decorations are usually only on one side. The use of deer horn indicates that this powder flask was intended for a hunting weapon. The depiction was most likely inspired by a painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Literature

Cf. von Philippovich, Elfenbein Munich 1982, illus. 313, a powder bottle in the Nationalmuseum Copenhagen produced at around the same time. Cf. The powder bottle with silver mountings by Jeremias Ritter in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 29.170). Cf. A slightly earlier powder bottled dated 1574 in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (acc. no. 2233-1855).