Flintlock Rifle
Unknown Artist
ca. 1800–1850
Medium
Steel, silver, niello, gold, ivory
Dimensions
L. 52 in. (132.08 cm); Cal. .56 in. (14.22 mm)
Classification
Firearms-Guns-Flintlock
Culture
Caucasian, Kubachi, Dagestan
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1931
Accession Number
31.35.2
Art Historical Context
This exquisite flintlock rifle, crafted around 1800–1850 in Kubachi, Dagestan, the masterful metalworking traditions of the Caucasian region. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Armor Department (acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1), it measures an impressive 52 inches in length with a .56-inch caliber, blending lethal functionality with stunning artistry. Kubachi silversmiths were renowned the Caucasus for transforming weapons into status symbols, reflecting the turbulent history of tribal warfare and prestige in 19th-century Dagestan. The rifle's steel barrel is richly adorned ...