Pair of Flintlock Pistols c. 18th century

Editor: So, here we have a pair of flintlock pistols, crafted around the 18th century, possibly by Lazzarino Cominazzo. What strikes me is their ornate detail – almost gaudy. What can you tell me about them? Curator: Gaudy! I prefer to think of them as… exuberantly detailed. These weren’t just tools, were they? Think of them as Baroque sculpture masquerading as weaponry, objects designed to impress as much as intimidate. The carving, the metalwork, the use of wood—it all speaks to a society obsessed with power and display. Makes you wonder what conversations happened around the table before someone decided *this* was a necessary embellishment. Editor: So, it’s about the cultural context then? This isn’t *just* craftsmanship; it's making a statement. Curator: Precisely. Think about the sheer labour involved, the skill… for what purpose? A functional one, yes, but overwhelmingly, they declare status. Almost like a shiny car today… perhaps slightly more… permanent? What sort of person would wield these? What sort of person would *want* to be seen wielding them? And how does that shape your understanding of that century? It does for me! Editor: That’s interesting – I’d been focused on the craftsmanship but now I'm seeing all of these broader connections to wealth and culture. Curator: Absolutely! The devil, darling, is always in the details, but it's in considering them, understanding *them* that makes it real, right? I can’t unsee them now as both weapon and art and something, in all their ridiculous grandeur, really terribly poignant too.