Pair of Flintlock Pistols 1625 - 1685

Girolamo Francino created this pair of flintlock pistols around the turn of the 18th century, combining steel, wood, and precious metal. Note the contrast between the sleek steel barrels, and the carved wooden stocks, inlaid with elaborate silver filigree. The lock mechanism, a relatively recent invention at the time, is also finely wrought. These pistols were luxury objects, not just weapons. They represent a substantial investment of skilled labor, from the gunsmithing required for the barrels and locks, to the woodworking, carving, and precious metalworking of the handles. While firearms were becoming increasingly important for military and political power, here the emphasis is instead on conspicuous display. The pistols speak to the status of their owner, who would have had the means to commission such a lavish item. In their emphasis on ornamentation, these pistols challenge our conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.