{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78653"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78653/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8240/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8240/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM8240","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8239","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8242","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8241","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JN1613","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JN1638","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78653/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78653","accessionNumber":"M.949-1983","objectType":"Wheel lock pistol","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This  pistol was owned by the Raymond family of  Belchamp Hall, Essex. The pistol is the only surviving  16th-century wheel-lock (a system of ignition operated by a revolving wheel) that was certainly made in England.  It has also come down to us with most of its original delicate gold and silver damascened (inlaid) decoration still remaining.<br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>Several features identify this wheel-lock as of English workmanship.  The ornament on the stock  (the support that holds the barrel) can be compared to English textiles and other English 16th-century firearms.  The shape of the butt is similar to that on other English 16th-century pistols and the damascened decoration on the lock and barrel is very similar to that on a small box  dated 1579 that was made for Robert Dudley, 1st  Earl of Leicester, Elizabeth I's favourite courtier.  The lock is also fitted with a safety catch of English form.<br><br><b>People</b><br>Like the flask and musket, this wheel-lock pistol originally belonged to Sir William Harris of Shenfield House, Essex.  At some date in its history the interior mechanism of the lock was altered by an unskilled hand.","physicalDescription":"Puffer pistol with steel barrel engraved and damascened in gold and wooden stock inlaid with engraved staghorn","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"staghorn","id":"x40190"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Carved","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"forged","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"inlay","id":"AAT53850"},{"text":"damascened","id":"AAT54019"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel barrel, wooden stock inlaid with engraved staghorn; barrel mounts damascened in gold and silver","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"Firearms","id":"THES49007"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM8240","2006AM8239","2006AM8242","2006AM8241","2016JN1613","2016JN1638"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"58B","id":"THES49237"},"free":"","case":"CA3","shelf":"","box":"14"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Pistol","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1580","earliest":"1575-01-01","latest":"1584-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"58","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Made in England","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Puffer pistol with steel barrel engraved and damascened in gold and wooden stock inlaid with engraved staghorn, England, about 1580","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Patterson, Angus, <u>Fashion and Armour in Renaissance Europe: Proud Lookes and Brave Attire</u>, V&A Publishing, London, 2009, ISBN  9781851775811, p. 99, ill."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nPISTOL, POWDER FLASK AND MUSKET<br>\nThis beautifully decorated group of weapons was probably made by a craftsman who trained in Northern Europe before settling in England. Such weapons were for display, rather than for battle. The delicate inlay features designs from contemporary Continental prints. The engraved chariot on the powder flask is adapted from an engraving by the German printmaker Virgil Solis (1514-1562).","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.949-1983"],"accessionNumberNum":"949","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1983,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM5516","2019LR3119","2019LR1949","2019LU5787","2021MV2210"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}