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Two Miquelet Pistols
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| Miquelet Pistol, c. 1750 Ripoll, Catalonia, Spain Wood, engraved brass, iron and steel; 10 3/4 in. F80.65.1 Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisitions Fund Purchase |
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| Miquelet Pistol, c. 1750 Ripoll, Catalonia, Spain Wood, engraved brass, iron and steel; 2 x 10 3/4 x 5 in. F80.65.2 Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisitions Fund Purchase |
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| Detail of F80.65.1 |
On the first pistol, the butt of the stock has a raised design of what looks to be a face. The lock and barrel both have maker’s marks on them, but the marks are unknown. As was common practice at this time in Europe, gunsmiths specialized in one element of gun making. As can be seen on this pistol, the maker’s marks on the lock and the barrel indicate two different makers. The stock is a very dark, lacquered wood with inset brass designs engraved with curvilinear motifs. The top of the barrel has a mark of a crown above illegible letters and also features inlaid brass.
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| Detail of F80.65.2 |
On the second pistol, the percussion cap is in the shape of a dolphin or fish. This pistol was originally a miquelet style flintlock but was modified likely c. 1830 when the percussion cap mechanism had become more popular. In the process of this modification the original maker’s mark on the lock was melted away and cannot be read. The mark on the lock plate, the part of the mechanism fixed to the barrel, to which all other elements of the mechanism are attached, is “Torrento.” The stock is a medium brown wood with engraved motifs in brass. The barrel has white metal floral and vine designs.
These two guns were once featured in our California Legacies: Missions and Ranchos exhibit. This exhibit focuses on the settlement of Alta California through Spanish land grants, life at the California Missions, and the wealth and lifestyles of the first families who flourished under Mexico’s rule of California, known as the Rancho Period.
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