Double-Barreled Flintlock Shotgun

Nicolas Noël Boutet

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is one of the most restrained but sophisticated examples of Boutet's work. The Classical ornament on the barrels and silver mounts is in the Empire style, whereas the bright steel locks, chiseled in relief with a gilt background, recall an earlier eighteenth-century tradition of firearms ornament. The walnut stock, sparingly decorated, is inlaid with ebony and gilt mounts, as also was found on French Empire furniture.

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