Cased Set of a Flintlock Rifle, a Pair of Pistols, and Accessories
ca. 1800
Medium
Steel, wood (walnut, mahogany), silver, gold, horn, velvet
Dimensions
L. of rifle 43 1/2 in. (110.5 cm); L. of barrel of rifle 27 5/8 in. (70.2 cm); Cal. of rifle .64 in. (16.3 mm); Wt. of rifle 6 lb. 7 oz. (2920 g); L. of each pistol 17 in. (43.17 cm); L. of barrel 11 5/8 in. (29.53 cm); Cal. of each pistol .52 in. (13.2 mm); Wt. of each pistol 2 lbs. 2 oz. (963.9 g); Dim. of case 46 7/16 x 15 15/16 x 2 3/16 in. (118 x 40.5 x 5.5 cm)
Classification
Firearms-Guns-Flintlock
Culture
French, Versailles
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1970
Accession Number
1970.179.1a–q
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of Napoleonic France with this exquisite cased set of a flintlock rifle, pair of pistols, and, crafted around 1800 by Nicolas Noël Boutet, the gunsmith and director of the Royal Armory at Versailles.et, often hailed as the finest gunsmith of his era, produced these firearms not just as weapons, but as marvels of artistry, blending deadly precision with lavish decoration fit for emperors and dignitaries. Forged from high-quality steel with barrels of stunning symmetry, the set features richly figured walnut and mahogany stocks inlaid with silver, gold, horn, and vel...
About the Artist
Nicolas Noël Boutet · 1761–1833
French, Versailles and Paris, 1761–1833