Pair of Wheellock Pistols

Pierre Le Bourgeois

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

These pistols are notable for their combination of restrained use of ornament and great elegance of form. Their maker, Pierre Le Bourgeois, was also responsible for the superb flintlock gun of Louis XIII displayed nearby.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art