M.G. Zaichenko
The Hermitage collection contains 15th to 19th century firearms from Poland, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Spain and other countries.
The collection strikes visitors with its wide array of weapons, extraordinary craftsmanship and superb decoration. Hand firearms emerged in Europe in the 15th century. Their early models were still uncomfortable to use, had excessively heavy barrels and flat undeveloped gun stocks. The four-barrelled hand cannon of the second half of the 15th century, which has four flash-pans with sliding wooden covers, and a hook on the gun stock, required direct manual ignition. This item looks very modest and has no decoration. Nevertheless, this exhibit stands out from the other exhibits of the Arsenal Department as an object of great value.
Since the appearance of early guns and pistols the development of firearms had followed two parallel paths. On the one hand, ways were found to constantly improve the ignition system and to increase the barrel quality. For example, rifling was introduced in order to intensify battles. On the other hand, the wooden gun stock design developed from a simple version dating back to the 16th century to an improved one in the 18th-19th centuries, when carving and inlay continued to be used as essential elements of decoration. To prevent the gun grip and stock from sliding in the gunner’s hands, an additional feature in the form of a rectangular centre net was introduced. In order to facilitate aiming, the so called gun butt “cheekpieces” were steadily improved.
The earliest type of a gunlock known as a match lock was equipped with a lever, with the help of which the fuse was put to the touch hole drilled in the barrel. The wheel lock was a complicated mechanism, which made it possible for a spark to be generated by means of the friction of a piece of pyrite against the spinning fire striker wheel. In the case of the flint lock a spark was produced as a result of the impact of flint against a steel fire striker plate. This type of a pellet lock was most common in Europe and in the eastern countries in the 17th-18th centuries. The 19th century saw the appearance of the new varieties of locks and blocks. Both mass and machine made production developed, but the carving and inlay of complimentary and customized items were executed by hand.
The earliest examples of guns and pistols were rather expensive, their owners were affluent people. It was quite common for armourers to decorate weapons in compliance with the customer’s request.
The decoration motifs could be chosen in ornamental albums which had existed in Europe since the early 16th century. Traditionally, the richly decorated weapon was an indication of its owner’s high social status. The idea of technology and art synthesis fully reveals itself in firearms’ finishing. The evolution of mechanisms required changes of decoration, which in its turn kept up with the general development of decorative and applied arts.
The lock sheet of wheel and flint pistols and guns was used by artists for applying carvings, etchings and chased designs, the barrels were decorated with relief carving, with subsequent blueing and gilding. Functional details, including a trigger, a hammer and a cover, were cast and chased in the form of zoomorphic figures, which lent them particular plasticity. Wooden stocks were reinforced with metal parts such as butt plates, body-locking pins and plates underneath them. The decoration of these elements faithfully followed the overall design concept.
Germany is represented in the Hermitage collection by the most numerous group of guns and pistols dating back to the 16th-19th centuries produced in Nuremberg, Dresden, Augsburg and Munich.
A saddle pistol with a lock mark produced by the gunsmith Hans Stopler of Nuremberg dates back to the middle of the 16th century. The engraved bone inlay technique was widely used by German gunsmiths for producing hunting hackbuts.
Paris was the leading firearms production centre in France. The French firearms of the 17th-19th centuries had their own characteristics and distinguishing features. It was in 1680-1690 that pistols of the Parisian armourer C. Chasteau were produced. The period between late 18th and the early 19th century is considered to be the heyday of gunsmithing in France. This period is comprehensively illustrated by the Versailles manufactory ware by the Parisian masters N.N. Boutet and J. Lepage, who worked during the Napoleonic era.
Among the highlights of the collection is the duelling set made by the Belgian master R. J. Malherbe, with the monogram of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich on the case cover.
Of particular interest is the collection of revolvers presented by Samuel Colt to Emperors Nicholas I and Alexander II, as well as to the grand dukes.
