Vierloops zakpistool c. 1799 - 1893

Curator: Our attention is drawn to this curious piece—a four-barrel pistol, often referred to as a “Vierloops zakpistool,” which likely originated between 1799 and 1893, with attribution to Guillaume Mariëtte. What captures your gaze immediately? Editor: It’s like a clenched fist, a weighty statement in metal and wood. Not exactly threatening at first glance, almost ornamental, but you know the potential resides just beneath the surface. A deadly beauty, would you agree? Curator: Indeed. There's such a sharp contrast between its brutal purpose and the obvious craftsmanship. The engraving on the steel hints at Baroque sensibilities, doesn’t it? Look how it contrasts with the utilitarian nature of its multiple barrels. Editor: The repetitive act of carving those floral motifs across steel – the hours sunk into something destined for, essentially, destruction. I think it speaks to a deep anxiety about artistry itself. The way production became art, and in that art became the final deadly act. Curator: Absolutely. One cannot ignore the question of class. Consider this object in its social context, where personal protection becomes something only the wealthy can literally "afford". Is it Baroque because they're holding onto ideals? Are they embellishing violence as if to sweeten death, somehow? Editor: Perhaps! Or is it an artisan pushing against industrialization? We see a deliberate crafting by hand of this metal sculpture, where it’s meant as a tool of oppression. The smoothness of the wood begs you to grasp it, this melding of the artisanal and the barbaric into one perfect shape. It shows a class separation of "who owns what." Even death. Curator: Well said! There is something haunting in knowing it’s silent history, imagining its possible use…or its role merely as a status symbol. A peculiar confluence of artistry, power, and fear encapsulated in this object. Editor: A beautiful horror—perfect for provoking such complex feelings! It will be interesting to watch guests consider how this weapon's aesthetic mirrors a larger social structure where design functions as another form of dominance.