Wheellock Pistol
c. 1590
Medium
Steel, iron, gilding, and brass
Dimensions
L. 38.1 cm (15 in.) Barrel L. 22.5 cm (8 7/8 in.) Wt. 3 lb. Caliber .47
Classification
firearm-handgun
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116523
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
By the end of the sixteenth century, the arms trade in Nuremberg had begun to weaken. Armorers and etchers applied their skills to broader markets by producing pistols like this, and all-steel caskets for safekeeping valuables. The etched figures, birds, and hunting scenes on this pistol derive from printed pattern books by Nuremberg artists Virgil Solis and Jost Amman.
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...