Over-and-Under Flintlock Pistol by George Sturman

Over-and-Under Flintlock Pistol 1820 - 1860

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print, metal, photography, wood

still-life-photography

weapon

print

metal

sculpture

photography

wood

Dimensions L. 14 3/16 in. (36 cm); L. of barrels 8 13/16 in. (20.8 cm); Cal. of upper barrel .64 in. (16.2 mm); Cal. of lower barrel .63 in. (16 mm); Wt. 3 lb. 1.4 oz. (1400.5 g)

This is an over-and-under flintlock pistol made by George Sturman, who lived from 1800 to 1875. As we examine this pistol, consider its place within the intricate dance of power, race, and colonialism. Arms like these were not just tools, but symbols deeply intertwined with identity and dominance. Sturman's creation emerges from an era of conflict, where guns played a pivotal role in shaping colonial power. Who held this pistol? What lands did it traverse? Whose lives were upended by its presence? These are the questions this piece evokes. Such a piece is a chilling reminder of the past, urging us to confront these legacies as we move forward.