G & JW Hawksley Gunpowder Flasks (Pair)

English gunpowder flasks in copper, repousse and cast, from the First World War. One is violin-shaped and features a screw-off fireproof top which is maker marked G & JW Hawksley. The flask has open flowing rococo scroll on both the front and back with an ovoid panel at the centre. It also has four hanging loops so it could be hung around the waist or neck. The other flask has a scallop design on the front and back and features a screw-off fireproof top which is also maker marked G & JW Hawksley.
George and John Williams were brothers who opened the company of G & JW Hawksley in 1840 in Sheffield, England. They were well-known for their fine craftsmanship and manufactured powder flasks for over four decades.
A powder flask is a small container for gunpowder, which was an essential part of shooting equipment with muzzle-loading guns, before pre-made paper cartridges became standard in the 19th century.