MINERVA-ATHENA Brass 18th Century Shield-Shape Musketeer's Box

18th Century Brass Shield-form Gun Cartridge Box with warrior goddess MINERVA-ATHENA surrounded by her symbols of Wisdom and Battle Strategy

Bare-breasted helmeted Minerva-Athena holds a spear, while two owls hover above paired banners beside her. Her left hand rests on the head of a lion at her side.

Profusely decorated overall with various florals,scrolls, beading and similar motifs on remainder of the heavy front and side plates, and domed hinged lid

The back is undecorated and fitted with a belt loop

Circa : 18th century, probably 1st half (Eastern Europe ?)
Size : Ht 4-3/4” x 4-1/2” x 1-1/2”
Condition : overall very good; top of finial lacking

Note : With invention of the cartridge in the early 17th century, the musketball was placed in a container with the right amount of powder to fire it; the soldier (or 'musketeer') no longer had to measure powder from a horn into his gun.
(Ref : “A Brief History of Weapons”, Tim Lambert)

# 2840 .........................................................................................SOLD