Pair of Wheellock Pistols

Giovan Antonio Gavacciolo

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gavacciolo was considered among the best lockmakers and most gifted steel-chiselers in Brescia. His work was so highly valued that the Venetian government presented sets of Gavacciolo's firearms to King Louis XIII of France (reigned 1610–43) and the King of Persia.

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