Design for the Decoration of Firearms 1772 - 1830

This delicate pen and ink drawing, created between 1772 and 1830, is a design for the decoration of firearms by French artist Nicolas Noël Boutet. It features a flowing, symmetrical pattern of stylized floral motifs, with the artist's signature visible in the lower right corner. This drawing is a testament to the artistry and craftsmanship applied to even functional objects during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It demonstrates the importance of decorative arts, highlighting the influence of design in the creation of luxury goods, and now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.