{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O69479"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O69479/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NG7581/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NG7581/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022NG7581","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4420","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4569","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4583","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4582","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4581","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4584","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4568","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX4567","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019ME7257","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LX5549","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O69479/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O69479","accessionNumber":"M.38&A-1960","objectType":"Pair of pistols","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Pair of pistols with stub twist barrels, with hair-rifling hooked into false breeches. The barrels are stained grey and inlaid in gold with the maker's signature, an arrow and the number 93. The barrels have gold touch-holes, rear and fore-sights. Numbered 1 and 2 respectively on the false breeches. The locks have water-proof gold-lined pans and are engraved with scenes of buildings and signed 'Boutet à Versailles'. The half stocks are walnut with chequered butts terminating in a flat ebony butt-cap with a border of carved acanthus enclosing an oval steel plaque chiselled with honeysuckle ornament. The furniture is engraved steel, with an oval escutcheon plate.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Boutet, Nicolas Noel","id":"A12212"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel and gold mounts","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2022NG7581","2011EX4420","2011EX4569","2011EX4583","2011EX4582","2011EX4581","2011EX4584","2011EX4568","2011EX4567","2019ME7257","2019LX5549"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES405526"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES405526"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Pistol","id":""}],[{"text":"Pistol","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1820","earliest":"1815-01-01","latest":"1824-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased from the Funds of the Farquharson Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"410","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"50","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Boutet à Versailles'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"On the barrels","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Inscription; decoration","note":"Inscription; decoration; On the barrels"}],"objectHistory":"These pistols date from around 1820 and are signed by Nicolas Noel Boutet (1761-1833), one of the last great artist-gunmakers. He was born on 31 August 1761, the son of Noel Boutet, 'Arquebusier des chevaux-legers  du Roi'. Nicolas followed his father's trade and also married the daughter of Desainte, the 'Arquebusier Ordinaire du Roi'. Desainte handed Boutet his appointment as Royal Gunsmith. Boutet was certainly equal to the role - his firearms and swords are masterpieces of the art of arms manufacture in the early 19th century.\n\nBoutet worked for the French King, Louis XVI, at Versailles and after the Revolution, was employed the future Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon appointed Boutet as general manager of the Versailles Armoury in 1798 and Boutet made guns for Napoleon's personal use until 1815. After Napoleon's death, Boutet continued to make guns and swords for an international clientele of noblemen and Royalty. When Boutet left Versailles in 1818 he set up at No. 87 Rue de Richelieu in Paris but continued to use the signature, \"Boutet à Versailles\".\n\nHayward states: \"M. Bottet in Le Manufacture d'Armes de Versailles, Paris, 1903, p.51, suggests that the numbers on the barrels were Boutet's private serial numbers. He states that firearms of this kind which bear the signature 'Boutet à Versailles' inlaid in gold in very large cursive lettering were made after 1818, but they are probably later still.\" (p. 64)\n\nThe Museum bought the pistols at an auction by Sotheby's, 4th April, 1960, lot 127.","historicalContext":"The French Revolution and subsequent rise of Napoleon as consul (1799-1804) and emperor (1804-14), heralded a marked change in the design and decoration of French firearms. Gone were the delicate Rococo swirls and scrolls of the previous generation in favour of a simpler classicism known as the Empire style which drew on Greek and Roman motifs. The decoration included trophies of arms and scenes of classical battles and victories that implied France's military glory.\n\nBoutet's firearms and swords are characteristised by their extraordinarily high quality of workmanship with beautifully patterned barrels often encrusted with gold and silver decoration, including Boutet's signature, similar to the decoration practised by the great Russian arms factory at Tula.\n","briefDescription":"Pair of pistols with rifled barrels and steel and gold mounts, Paris, ca.1820","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Hayward, J. F., <u>European Firearms</u>, HMSO, London, 1969, cat. 101, pp. 63-4"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Hayward, J.F., <u>The Art of the Gunmaker: Volume Two - Europe and America 1660-1830</u>, Barrie and Rockliff, London, 1963, pp. 189-190"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Pair of pistols</b>\nAbout 1820\n\nThese pistols are signed by Nicolas Noel Boutet, the most celebrated gunsmith working in the Empire style. His gun and swords are characterised by their extraordinary craftsmanship and simple classical ornament. Boutet had been Royal Gunsmith to Louis XVI and became general manager of the Versailles Armoury under Napoleon. He continued to sign his works 'Boutet à Versailles' after he moved to Paris in 1818.\n\nFrance, Paris; designed and made by Nicolas Noel Boutet\nSteel with walnut stocks and gold mounts\nSigned 'Boutet à Versailles'\n\nPurchased with funds from the Farquharson Bequest","date":{"text":"05/04/2017","earliest":"2017-04-05","latest":"2017-04-05"}}],"partNumbers":["M.38-1960","M.38A-1960"],"accessionNumberNum":"38","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1960,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Pistol [1]","Pistol [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-16","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-06","availableToBook":true}}