Flintlock Pistol

Unknown

1760–70 · Steel, wood (walnut), silver, gold, horn · Arms and Armor

The barrel is round, with a narrow sighting facet along the top and a silver fore sight at the muzzle; on each side of the breech is a flat facet. The breech is decorated with the figure of a standing Roman warrior amid trophies, shells, and scrolls, all chiseled in relief against a matted gold background. The flintlock of conventional French type is chiseled with trophies, scrolls, and foliation against a partly gilt background. The walnut stock is profusely decorated with carved foliation and rococo scrolls; the tips of the forestock and of the ramrod are of bone. The trigger guard and mounts are of cast silver, chiseled with classical figured motifs in rococo frames against a gilt background. On the rear branch of the trigger guard are scratched four letters; VKBI (probably an owner's initials). This pistol exhibits many of the same qualities as a flintlock gun also in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 10.99), and, though unmarked, is also tentatively attributed to a Carlsbad workshop.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1760–70

Medium

Steel, wood (walnut), silver, gold, horn

Culture

Bohemian, Carlsbad (now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic)

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1916