18th-Century Bugbear Gunpowder Flask

Richly hand-carved in relief with a genre scene of a burglary, this coconut shell “bugbear” flask would have been used to carry gunpowder. A man with a sword protects a distressed maiden as the burglars attempt to enter the home through the window. The “bugbear,” a mythical boogyman-like figure, also appears on the flask, complete with black glass eyes and a stopper “mouth” flanked with lugs for securing chains. Circa 1780.

Visit our website for more details. Item No. 31-9747.

#antiques #artifacts #bugbear #napoleon

[jaya]

It's wild what people can get up to artistically when they are bored enough.

[rebeccarhoton]

I have a Bug Bear but it's a half of a coconut and the carving is beautiful ❤️.

[samparkerSAM]

... the Original Tropical Isle ... The entire piece reminds me of Shakespeare's Tempest...

[MultiLisa]

So detailed just for something to hold gun powder

[pikajuriryu]

Looks like that beheçet thing from Berserk

[ShiftsHappen]

Take away social media & people would easily become creative again.

[balsosnell]

Just English? Not British? Scot’s, Welsh, northern Irish?

[TwigsAndFog]

Poor thing they made him suck it so hard 😢