Flintlock Pistol

possibly Belgian, Liege

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 375

This pistol is one of a small group of flintlock guns and holster pistols with high relief chiseling on the barrels, locks, and mounts. The decoration includes military scenes with figures in seventeenth-century costume, trophies of arms, and Classical figures. Not signed or marked, these firearms are thought to have been made in eastern France of The Netherlands, perhaps in Liege (in modern Belgium). This pistol, one of a pair, belonged to the famous Swedish general Carl Gustaf, Count Wrangel, who acquired several firearms of this type in Liege in 1651. Wrangel's armory, largely intact, is preserved in Skokloster Castle, Sweden.

Flintlock Pistol, Steel, iron, wood (walnut), possibly Belgian, Liege

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.