Antique 19th Century Polish Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw Military Gun powder Horn Flask
$2,000.00
An antique early 19th-century Polish Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw (1807 –1815 AD) military officer's gunpowder horn flask, crafted in the distinctive First French Empire style. Possibly, custom made for high rank Polish officer of The Army of the Duchy of Warsaw (Polish: Armia Księstwa Warszawskiego).
The flask is crafted from pressed, hollowed-out cattle horns and mounted in gilt-bronze (ormolu) relief.
The front side of the object is decorated with a gold gilt-bronze plaque. The plaque is pierced, hand-chiseled in low relief, and engraved with a martial trophy of Neo-Roman arms in First Empire style. It features a Roman helmet, two shields, a Roman gladius sword with an eagle pommel, Roman fasces, a flag and halberd, and the military standard with a Polish Eagle. The eagle's head is turned right, and its wings are raised in a typical version of the Polish Standard Eagle.
The eagle is placed on a rectangular base with the initials SPQV engraved on it. SPQV stands for Senatus Populusque Varsovia. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is known in Latin as Varsovia. The Napoleonic state, "Duchy of Warsaw,” was derived from the city's name.
The Latin initials SPQV are a paraphrase of the Roman Latin initials SPQR, written according to ancient Roman army standards. SPQR stands Senātus Populusque Rōmānus (The Senate and People of Rome), referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic.
Below the plinth is an oval medallion with the portrait bust of Fryderyk August I, in armor, Duke of Duchy of Warsaw and Elector of Saxony from 1763 to 1806 (as Frederick Augustus III).
Please note that the Napoleonic eagle on the First French Empire standard has its head turned towards the left, and its wings are spread downwards. On the other hand, the Polish military standard Eagle of the Duchy of Warsaw always has its head turned towards the right, and its wings are raised upwards.
The flask is mounted with a gilt-bronze buttplate. The frame is shaped like running acanthus leaves. The tip of the flask has an elaborately shaped ormolu bronze nozzle adorned with a sculpted laurel wreath.
On the flask's upper side are two gilt bronze deferment rings connected to two large tassels made of plaited green silk with braided suspension cord.
CONDITION: This flask has retained its original, untouched condition. It bears the marks of its age and use, which only add to its charm and authenticity.
DIMENSIONS:
Approximate overall length: 27 cm (10.63 inches).
Width at the base: 8 cm (3.15 inches).