Possible Powder Flask

I love flea markets. I picked this up at my first one today. It was only 3 euros, so I figured it was just a decorative piece from the German equivalent of World Market. Once I got home, I noticed that there was something rattling around in there. I managed to pry off the lid, which I hadn't realized could actually come off. I shook out it's contents, which ended up being small flakes of soft, dark grey metal, which I assume might be lead. This made me wonder if it was actually functional at some point and not just a reproduction. Could it have once contained shot or powder? It's about 10 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide at widest point. The cord it hangs from is coarse and wooly. It has some dents and what appears to be solder blobs on sides.

 

Google Arabic Powder Flask, images, and you will see some somewhat similar, all of which look recent to me. Brown and white fiberous thing sure looks like synthetic boat line, if ends look melted that’s what it is. So I dunno.

 

I agree with springfld. Look specifically at Moroccan powder flasks.