Flintlock Gun
Unknown Artist
17th–18th century
Medium
Iron, wood (likely mahogany), silver, brass, ivory
Dimensions
L. 87 1/4 in. (221.6 cm); L. of barrel 73 3/4 in. (187.3 cm); Cal. .53 in. (13.5 mm); Wt. 11 lb. 2 oz. (5046 g)
Classification
Firearms
Culture
Sri Lankan
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.907
Art Historical Context
This stunning flintlock gun 17th–18 century Sri Lanka exemplifies the fusion of functionality and artistry in Southeast Asian arms-making. Crafted from iron for the long, 73¾-inch barrel, with a stock likely of rich mahogany, it is embellished with silver, brass, ivory—materials that elevate it beyond a mere weapon into a luxurious object. Measuring nearly 7½ feet in length and weighing over 11 pounds, its scale reflects the power and presence of muskets used in warfare, hunting, or ceremonial displays during a time of European colonial influence on the island. In Sri Lankan culture, such fir...