Snaphance Belt Pistol
dated 1775, in style of c. 1700
Medium
Steel, brass, walnut, and gold
Dimensions
L. 26 cm (10 1/4 in.) Barrel L. 14.3 cm (5 5/8 in.) Wt. 1 lb. Caliber .47
Classification
firearm-handgun
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116569
Art Historical Context
This Snaphance Belt Pistol, dated 1775 yet made in the style of around 1700, is a compact European firearm that blends practical design with decorative elegance. A snaphance is an early flint-and-steel ignition mechanism, a precursor to later flintlocks, used here in a small belt pistol meant to be carried at the waist. At just 26 cm long, with a 14.3 cm barrel, weighing only one pound and chambered in .47 caliber, it was both a functional sidearm and a status object in an era when personal weapons often doubled as displays of craftsmanship. Crafted from steel, brass, walnut, and gold by an u...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...