Pair of Flintlock Pistols
ca. 1750–70
Medium
Steel, silver
Dimensions
L. 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm)
Classification
Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock
Culture
Scottish, Doune
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Edward Coe Embury Jr., Philip Aymar Embury, and Dorothy Embury Staats, in memory of Aymar Embury II and his wife, Jane Embury Benepe, 2000
Accession Number
2000.194.1, .2
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 18th-century Scotland with this exquisite pair of flintlock pistols by Alexander Campbell of Doune around 1750–70. Measuring 11 3/4 inches in, these steel and silver masterpieces exemplify the renowned gunsmithing tradition of Dou, a small Perthshire town famous for producing some of Europe's finest firearms. Campbell's work reflects the era's blend of functionality and artistry, where pistols served not just as weapons but as status symbols for gentlemen, officers, and duelists. Flintlock mechanisms, like those here, revolutionized handheld firearms by providing reliab...