Wheellock Pistol Made for Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651)

Wheellock Pistol Made for Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651)

Emanuel Sadeler

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

An all-steel stock is unusual and was probably used to give Sadeler more surface on which to display his talents. The pommel is decorated with the coat of arms of Bavaria under a ducal crown and encircled by the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Duke Maximilian I (1573–1651) became a knight of this prestigious order in 1600.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wheellock Pistol Made for Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651)Wheellock Pistol Made for Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651)Wheellock Pistol Made for Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651)Wheellock Pistol Made for Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651)Wheellock Pistol Made for Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651)

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.