Working History — C. 1720
Pistol, travelling pistol
This flintlock travelling pistol features a cannon-shaped barrel which could be unscrewed for ease of loading and cleaning. This type of pistol with its silver mounts, including the dragon on the reverse of the stock and the grotesque on the butt cap, is characteristic of this period of Georgian gunmaking.
The maker Lewis (or Louis) Barbar emigrated from France, fleeing religious persecution following Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Barbar then entered the service of William III. Barbar was naturalised in 1700 and was made a freeman of the Gunmakers' Company by redemption in 1704. He rose to become Master of the London Gunmakers' Company in 1718 and also held the post of Gentleman Armourer to George I and II.
- Category:
- Working History
- Object ID:
- A12881
- Object name:
- pistol, travelling pistol
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Barbar, Lewis
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- c. 1720
- Material:
steel, wood, silver
- Measurements/duration:
- L 320 mm, 45 mm, 110 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
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