Pair of Percussion Target Pistols Made for Display at the 1844 Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie in Paris

Alfred Gauvain

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Created by the celebrated gunsmith Alfred Gauvain (1801–1889) for display at the Exhibition of French Industry in Paris in 1844, these pistols are masterpieces of iron chiseling in the Gothic Revival style. Designed by the sculptor and ornemanist Michel Liénard (1810–1870), they typify the imaginative conception and superb execution of the most elaborate firearms created by Parisian gunmakers to show off their skills at the industrial exhibitions and world fairs held in Paris, London, and elsewhere throughout the nineteenth century. At the 1844 exhibition, where they were awarded a silver medal, Gauvain's works were praised not so much for the richness of their materials, but rather their pure finish and artistic execution.

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