Design for the Decoration of Firearms 1772 - 1830

Nicolas Noël Boutet's "Design for the Decoration of Firearms" is a detailed pen-and-ink drawing depicting a decorative element for firearms, likely a gunstock. The drawing showcases a stylized urn overflowing with fruit and flowers, adorned with two birds, suggesting a refined and ornate aesthetic. Boutet, a prolific French designer active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, created this design between 1772 and 1830, demonstrating his mastery of ornamental detail. The drawing, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the intricate and often overlooked artistry of decorative elements on firearms.