Gunpowder Containers in the Kayseri Museum
Sanat Tarihi Yilligi, sa.35, ss.141-170, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.26650/sty.2026.1844073
- Dergi Adı: Sanat Tarihi Yilligi
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.141-170
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Cartridge Holders (Kütüklükler), Gunpowder Containers, Late Ottoman Decorative Styles, Ottoman Period Gunpowder Containers, Powder Measures
- Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
All objects used by humankind for the purposes of defence or attack are defined as weapons. Throughout history, weapon technology has continuously evolved in accordance with the needs of different periods, such as selfprotection, hunting, and establishing defensive power against enemies; among the most significant innovations in this process has been the introduction of firearms. Parallel to the development of weapon technology, the supply, storage, and transportation of ammunition have been as crucial as the use of the weapons themselves. With the adoption of gunpowder weapons, various containers for storing and carrying auxiliary ammunition emerged. These containers were termed gunpowder containers (barutluklar), deriving their name from the material they were designed to hold. Numerous studies have been conducted on both nonfirearms and firearms to date, within which powder flasks have generally been addressed as a subcategory. However, comprehensive and detailed studies focusing on Ottoman powder flasks remain limited, which underscores the originality and significance of this research. The material examined in this study consists of 44 gunpowder containers, 2 cartridge holders (kütüklükler), and 7 powder measures housed in the Kayseri Museum. The objects were classified according to their material, wood, leather, bone, and horn and evaluated in terms of form, technique, motifs, and decorative features. The aim of this study is to evaluate the historical, typological, and ornamental features of Ottomanera gunpowder containers, cartridge holders, and powder measures in the collection of the Kayseri Museum within the framework of the discipline of Art History. The artefacts examined in this study have been classified according to their materials (metal, wood, leather, bone, and horn), formal characteristics, production techniques, and decorative features. This article demonstrates that powder flasks are not only functional tools but also objects reflecting the aesthetic and artistic dimensions of the Ottoman artistic tradition. Another aim of the research is to contribute to the limited body of literature on powder containers from the late Ottoman period and to evaluate the historical development of auxiliary equipment associated with firearms in parallel with advancements in firearm technology. A qualitative research method was employed, and conclusions were reached through inductive reasoning based on the description and observation of the sample objects.