Matchlock Gun

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Firearms were used in India starting in the fifteenth century and the matchlock remained the preferred firearms mechanism until about 1830. This sporting gun is distinctive for its delicately painted stock covered with hunting scenes, birds and other animals, and landscapes. The gold-damascened barrel is a masterpiece of forging, having both a square cross section and a square bore. It is signed by the smith Haji Sha'ban, who signed two other barrels on guns captured by the British at Lahore, in northwest India (now Pakistan), in the nineteenth century.

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