Vuursteenpistool c. 1700 - 1715

This flintlock pistol was crafted by J. Depré from steel, wood, and silver. What’s fascinating is how these materials are transformed. The steel, forged and precisely machined, speaks to early industrial processes, while the wood, likely walnut, is carefully shaped and polished to fit the hand. The silver filigree inlay adds a layer of luxury, transforming a weapon into a status symbol. Note the contrast: cold, hard steel alongside the warm, organic wood. The making of such an object would have involved a coordinated effort. Blacksmiths, woodworkers, and silversmiths each contributing their skills. This pistol embodies an emerging capitalist system, with its division of labor, consumption, and global trade of materials. When you consider the object in this way, distinctions between art, craft, and design become less important than the social and economic forces that shaped its creation.