Combination Spanner-Primer Flask-Screwdriver with the Coat of Arms of the Haller von Hallerstein and Nüzel von Sunderspuhl Families
c. 1600
Medium
Brass, gilded and engraved; iron; steel; and mother-of-pearl
Dimensions
H.: 22.2 cm (8 3/4 in.)
Classification
firearm-accessory
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106421
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
A wheellock mechanism could not be used without a spanner, or winding key. Often this essential tool was combined with others to make loading a long gun or pistol more convenient. Here, the handle doubles as a powder flask, with a nozzle on top to prime the pan of the lock with fine powder; at the base is a screwdriver to take the gun apart for cleaning.
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...