Percussion Pistol with Case

Percussion Pistol with Case

Alfred Gauvain

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This pistol may have been exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in 1855 in Paris, where Gauvain received a medal of honor for several pistols. Gauvain also showed decorated pistols at the international exhibitions held in London in 1849 and 1851.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.