Antique Flintlocks

Nicholas-Noël Boutet, French, Versailles, 1761–1833, Directeur-Artiste of the Manufacture d'Armes de Versailles, French, Versailles, 1761–1833

Steel, engraved, blued, and damascened with gold; walnut, carved and inlaid with engraved silver; silver, cast and chiseled; horn; mahogany; velvet

L. overall 43 1/2 in. (110.49 cm) Wt. 6 lb. 7 oz. (2920 gm) Caliber .64

The Revolution of 1789 and the subsequent rise of Napoleon, first as consul (1799–1804) and then as emperor (1804–14), brought about a dramatic change in the design and decoration of French firearms. The principal innovator was Nicholas-Noël Boutet (1761–1833), who was named directeur-artiste of the newly formed Versailles Arms Manufactory in 1792. While the Versailles factory was the principal producer of regulation weapons for the French armies, Boutet was also charged with creating richly decorated arms for presentation to military heroes and foreign heads of state.

Firearms of this period, like the rifle illustrated, show an unequaled technical perfection and precision of workmanship. The delicate Rococo style associated with the ancien régime was abandoned and replaced by the more masculine classicism of the Empire style with its references to Greco-Roman and Egyptian motifs. Gunstocks were inlaid with engraved sheet silver and gold, and the mounts were often of heavy silver cast in bold relief. The decoration included trophies of arms and scenes of classical battles and victories that implied France's military glory.

Samuel Brunn, England, London, recorded 1795-1820

Steel, walnut, silver, gold

Length overall 16 in. ( 40.64 cm) Length barrel 10 1/8 in. ( 25.7 cm) Caliber .603

These pistols are the finest known examples of English neoclassical-style firearms. Each stock is inlaid with engraved sheet silver and embellished with heavy cast-silver mounts. This decoration was inspired by contemporary French Empire firearms, such as those by Boutet also in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. nos. 36.58a–c, 42.50.7a–n, and 1970.179.1). Several of the motifs are based on ancient Roman sources. On the sideplate, for example, the Nereid riding a sea-leopard derives from an engraving of 1762 depicting a wall painting in the recently found ruins of Herculaneum. On the trigger guard, the oval medallion representing Hercules with a defeated Amazon is copied from a well-known antique gem. The Medusa head on the butt also derives from classical art, but here the idealized model has been transformed into a grimacing but almost humorous caricature of the legendary gorgon.


Copy and photos from The Metropolitan Museum.