Pair of Wheellock Pistols Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony

ca. 1610

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 375

These slender, elegant pistols are sparingly inlaid with engraved staghorn and feature push-button pan covers. The finely carved pear-shaped, hexagonal pommels, engraved gilt brass accents, and crisply embellished three-stage barrels mark their quality. In superb condition, they were made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony and bear the arms of Saxony on the stocks.

Artwork Details

Title: Pair of Wheellock Pistols Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony
Gunsmith: Simon Helbig (German, Dresden, recorded 1609–1642)
Stock maker: Hans Fleischer (German, Dresden, recorded 1590–ca. 1625)
Date: ca. 1610
Geography: Dresden
Culture: German, Dresden
Medium: Steel, gold, brass, staghorn, wood (beech)
Dimensions: L. of each pistol 29 1/8 in. (73.9 cm); L. of each barrel 8 3/4 in. (47.6 cm); Cal. of each pistol .57 in. (14.5 mm); Wt. of each pistol 4 lb. 5 oz. (1956 g)
Classification: Firearms-Pistols-Wheellock
Credit Line: Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Object Number: 14.25.1398a, b
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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