Miquelet Gun

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Coral-inlaid firearms were a specialty of Algerian and Tunisian gunmakers in the eighteenth century. Shaped coral plaques were fitted into a silver framework to create a colorful decoration. The dey of Algiers presented examples to European rulers as part of his nation’s trade negotiations, and the bey of Tunis presented one to President Thomas Jefferson in 1805. The barrels of these guns are of European manufacture intended for the North African market.

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