Vuursteenjachtgeweer 1700

This flintlock hunting rifle was made by Barend Penterman, probably in the early 18th century. Notice the materials: steel for the barrel and lock mechanism, inlaid into a beautifully figured wooden stock. The making of such an object involved both rigorous standardization and highly skilled artistry. The metal parts were produced using the same techniques as any other gun, but with an eye to refined detail. The wooden stock, however, is where the gunsmith could really show their hand. The wood had to be carefully chosen, shaped, and polished to fit the metal parts precisely. Consider the labor involved in the creation of this object – the mining and smelting of the metal, the felling and curing of the wood, the precise hand-work needed to bring them together. This firearm speaks to a culture where technological innovation coexisted with an appreciation for handcraft, and blurs the boundaries between functional object and decorative art.