Pair of Flintlock Pistols Made for Ferdinand IV, King of Naples and Sicily (1751–1825)

Royal Arms Manufactory at Torre Annunziata

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Royal Arms Factory in Naples was established in 1757 with the significant participation of Spanish gunmakers, who strongly influenced Neopolitan arms production in both technical innovations and artistic style. These magnificent pistols are signed by two leading craftsmen of the factory and appear to have been made for their patron, King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily (1751–1825). What may be portraits of the young king and his queen on the butts of the pistols suggests that they were made to commemorate the royal wedding in 1768.

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