Cartridge Box
1570/80
Medium
Steel, iron and wood
Dimensions
H.: 12 cm (4 3/4 in.)
Classification
firearm-accessory
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106427
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
To aid in loading pistols from horseback, a premeasured amount of black powder and a lead ball were prepared in cylindrical paper cartridges. This box suspended from the shooter’s belt and could contain four such cartridges. The shooter would tear the paper, pour the powder charge down the barrel, and tamp the bullet over the charge. Cartridge boxes were often ornamented with figures and coats of arms. This one is startlingly embossed with two lovers, a subject frequently associated with shooti...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...