Flintlock Blunderbuss

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This gun comes from the armory of Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore, a Muslim state within southern (Hindu) India, from 1782 to 1799. Tipu called himself the “Tiger of Mysore” and employed tiger imagery in every aspect of his court. The cock of this flintlock is a tiger’s head and the barrel is damascened in gold with tiger stripes. Manufactured in the capital of Seringapatam and incorporating the latest European technology, Tipu’s firearms were the most distinctive and sophisticated in India at the time.

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