Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Double-Action Revolver, serial no. 70002

Manufacturer Smith & Wesson American
 Decorator Tiffany & Co.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 372


The pistol’s hammered silver grip is inset with asymmetrically arranged silver salamanders, their spiraled poses taking inspiration from East Asian works in Moore’s collection, such as the bronze Qing incense burner nearby. This is among the earliest known examples of Tiffany’s silver-decorated firearms. Departing from the established American tradition of embellishing firearms by engraving and inlaying directly into their steel surfaces, Tiffany’s innovative decorations typically fitted a hollow, sculpted silver sheath over the pistol grip, sometimes etching the barrel and cylinder to match.

Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Double-Action Revolver, serial no. 70002, Smith & Wesson (American, established 1852), Steel, nickel, silver, American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York

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Right side (barrel facing R)

Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Double-Action Revolver, serial no. 70002, Smith & Wesson (American, established 1852), Steel, nickel, silver, American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York
Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Double-Action Revolver, serial no. 70002, Smith & Wesson (American, established 1852), Steel, nickel, silver, American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York
Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Double-Action Revolver, serial no. 70002, Smith & Wesson (American, established 1852), Steel, nickel, silver, American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York
Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Double-Action Revolver, serial no. 70002, Smith & Wesson (American, established 1852), Steel, nickel, silver, American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York
Smith and Wesson .38 Caliber Double-Action Revolver, serial no. 70002, Smith & Wesson (American, established 1852), Steel, nickel, silver, American, Springfield, Massachusetts and New York

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