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Source Description
The chiseling of gun ornament is a task comparable to sculpture on a miniature scale, carried out in an extremely hard material. Since this was usually beyond the skill of most gunsmiths, it was not uncommon for such work to be contracted out as occurred here. While the barrels are signed <em>P. Moretta</em>, the lock plates of these pistols are signed <em>Carlo Lerme</em>, who also chiseled the mounts.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
96808
label
Pair of Flintlock Pistols
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
96808
contentType
object
title
Pair of Flintlock Pistols
description
The chiseling of gun ornament is a task comparable to sculpture on a miniature scale, carried out in an extremely hard material. Since this was usually beyond the skill of most gunsmiths, it was not uncommon for such work to be contracted out as occurred here. While the barrels are signed <em>P. Moretta</em>, the lock plates of these pistols are signed <em>Carlo Lerme</em>, who also chiseled the mounts.
date
c. 1670
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60778549
genreSpecific
Arms and Armor
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 45.1 cm (17 3/4 in.); Barrel: 27.6 cm (10 7/8 in.); Bore: 1.3 cm (1/2 in.)
cul
Italy, Brescia, 17th century
accession
1916.52
Source extras
tec
steel, chiseled decoration with walnut stock
tombstone
Pair of Flintlock Pistols, c. 1670. Italy, Brescia, 17th century. Steel, chiseled decoration with walnut stock; overall: 45.1 cm (17 3/4 in.); barrel: 27.6 cm (10 7/8 in.); bore: 1.3 cm (1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.52
collection
MED - Arms & Armor
inscriptions
inscription
P. Moretta
inscription
CARLO LERME
inscription_remark
on lock plates
didYouKnow
This type of pistol fired only once before needing to be reloaded, so they were often produced in matched pairs. Even the trigger is decorated on these beautifully ornate weapons. Look closely to compare how a skilled craftsman carefully matched the patterning on these two guns.
citations
citation
<em>Catalogue of Arms and Armour</em>. Vol. 4, <em>17th to 19th century and a few pieces of iron work</em>. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915].
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: No. (262) 289
citation
Gilchrist, Helen Ives. <em>A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. </em>Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 148, F14
citation
Fliegel, Stephen N. <em>Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art.</em> [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998.
page_number
Mentioned: P. 173, cat. no. 217
citation
Fliegel, Stephen N. <em>Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007.
page_number
Mentioned: P. 193, cat. no. 216
creditline
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:12:58.326000
sourceId
96808
dept
Medieval Art
coll
MED - Arms & Armor
med
steel, chiseled decoration with walnut stock
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
ec5b04712152f009