gunpowder-horn
- Museum number
- 2011,6003.5
- Description
-
Silver gunpowder horn (talahiq) for men, with a buckled leather strap. The large decorative top is sealed shut, but would have once been removeable for filling the horn. The gunpowder would have been released at the narrow end by operating the lever along the inner curve. Stamped and chased decoration with granulation, wirework and small floral elements.
- Production date
- 1950s
- Dimensions
-
Length: 28.50 centimetres (leather strap)
-
Length: 18 centimetres (longest part)
-
Weight: 244 grammes
-
Width: 5 centimetres (widest part)
- Curator's comments
- For similar examples see: Ruth Hawley, 'Silver: The Traditional Art of Oman' (London, 2000); Jehan S. Rajab, 'Silver Jewellery of Oman' (Kuwait, 1997); Neil Richardson and Marcia Dorr, 'The Craft Heritage of Oman' (Dubai, 2003).
According to Avelyn Forster, '[A leather strap attached to the gunpowder horn] was sometimes worn arround the neck but most often attached to the back of the headdress, and worn high enough to ensure that the powder was kept dry should the owner need to wade through water whilst hunting.' A. Forster, 'Disappearing Treasures of Oman' (Clevedon, 1998), pp.98-99.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Fair
- Acquisition date
- 2011
- Acquisition notes
- Presented as part of a gift of costumes and silver artefacts to the British Museum on the occasion of the exhibition 'Adornment and Identity: Jewellery and Costume from Oman' by His Excellency Mohammed Al Tobi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, at the opening reception on 26/01/11.
- Department
- Middle East
- Registration number
- 2011,6003.5