Museum - Polychrome Gourd-shaped Hunting Powder Flask – Folk Art - Heraldry

Dated 1894 – Late 19th century

Massif Central, France

An exceptional hunting powder flask made from an engraved and polychrome gourd, a remarkable example of folk art from the Massif Central, dated 1894.

The use of the calabash reflects the incorporation, in 19th-century French folk art, of exotic plant materials that had reached Europe through trade. These materials could be repurposed and transformed by rural artisans into everyday or personal objects, such as this powder flask intended for hunting.

This example stands out for the extraordinary richness of its decoration. Nearly its entire surface is finely engraved and polychromed with almost miniaturist precision.

The main scene depicts a hunter with his rifle slung over his shoulder, accompanied by his dog in pursuit of a deer. This particularly vivid hunting scene constitutes the object’s primary figurative motif and directly evokes its original function.

The scene unfolds amid a remarkable profusion of plant motifs. Flowers, foliage, twigs, and floral arrangements generously cover the body, organizing the surface into a particularly dense design.

A significant heraldic composition completes this ensemble, featuring a crowned shield, initials, and the date 1894. The coat of arms, which appears to be more of a personal creation than a currently identifiable heraldic design, reinforces the object’s unique and likely personalized character.

The long neck is also entirely decorated. It features a succession of geometric friezes, lozenges, and checkered patterns that extend the decoration all the way to its tip.

The neck is fitted with a particularly well-crafted antique metal trim, cut into a serrated pattern where it meets the gourd. This functional element contributes fully to the piece’s aesthetic balance and contrasts with the richness of the polychromy.

The richness of the decorative design, the finesse of the drawing, the quality of the polychromy, and the care taken with every detail place this piece far above strictly utilitarian objects.

Beyond its hunting function, this powder flask is thus a truly personal object, likely crafted or decorated for its owner. The presence of the initials, the date, and the heraldic design further reinforces this personal dimension.

A true museum-quality piece, particularly accomplished in the realm of folk art and hunting art from the Massif Central in the late 19th century.

Condition: Remarkable state of preservation. No cracks. Very beautiful antique patina and particularly well-preserved polychrome. Original metal trim preserved. Engraved decoration perfectly legible.

Dimensions:

Height: 16 cm

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