Pair of Wheellock Pistols Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony

ca. 1590

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 375

Many similar pistols were made by Dresden gunmakers for the elector's mounted bodyguard. The large spherical pommel facilitated easy withdrawal from a saddle holster. The Saxon ducal arms is on the silver buttplate.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Pair of Wheellock Pistols Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony
Gunsmith: Zacharias Herold (German, Dresden, recorded 1586–1618)
Date: ca. 1590
Geography: Dresden
Culture: German, Dresden
Medium: Steel, wood, silver, gold, brass
Dimensions: 14.25.1399a; L. 24 3/16 in. (61.4 cm); L. of barrel 15 1/16 in. (38.3 cm); Cal. .502 in. (12.8 mm); Wt. 4 lb. 3 oz. (1899 g)
14.25.1399b; L. 24 3/4 in. (62.9 cm); L. of barrel 15 3/8 in. (39.1 cm); Cal. .507 in. (12.88 mm); Wt. 4 lb. 1 oz. (1850 g)
Classification: Firearms-Pistols-Wheellock
Credit Line: Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Object Number: 14.25.1399a, b
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Rapier of Prince-Elector Christian II of Saxony (1583–1611), Israel Schuech German, Steel, bronze, gold, enamel, paste jewels, cameos, pearls, wood, hilt, German, Dresden; blade, Spanish, Toledo — Rapier of Prince-Elector Christian II of Saxony (1583–1611)
Israel Schuech
Juan Martinez
dated 1606

Pair of Wheellock Pistols Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony, Simon Helbig German, Steel, gold, brass, staghorn, wood (beech), German, Dresden — Pair of Wheellock Pistols Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony
Simon Helbig
Hans Fleischer
ca. 1610

Wheellock Gun Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony, Steel, brass, gold, wood (walnut), staghorn, German, Dresden — Wheellock Gun Made for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony
German, Dresden
dated 1589

Hunting Sword, Johann Georg Klett German, Steel, silver, gold, bloodstone, German, Dresden — Hunting Sword
Johann Georg Klett
ca. 1750

Rapier, Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy, wood, German, Dresden — Rapier
German, Dresden
ca. 1575–1600

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.