Collection record · Objects & craft
Wheel-Lock from a Hunting Rifle
The collection record classifies this work as arms and armor. It is dated c. 1720–40. Recorded culture or place: Germany, Munich, 18th century.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Wheel-Lock from a Hunting Rifle
- Date
- c. 1720–40
- Culture / origin
- Germany, Munich, 18th century
- Materials and technique
- steel, engraved
- Dimensions
- Overall: 29.2 x 11.7 cm (11 1/2 x 4 5/8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1916.40
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
At the beginning of the 1500s a new type of ignition system was invented: the wheel-lock, the first self-igniting mechanism for guns. This type of ignition involved a piece of iron pyrites held in the jaws of a cock. When the trigger was pulled the pyrites pressed against the serrated edge of a prewound revolving wheel, creating a shower of sparks that ignited priming powder in a pan on top of the lock. This action sent a flash of flame through the vent hole to explode the main charge in the breech of the barrel. Originally part of a deluxe hunting rifle, the lock plate's entire surface is engraved in a chaotic scene. Combating cavaliers, Turks, acanthus leaves, and trophies cover every bit of space.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
Open the complete museum record View the open-access policyTHE VISITOR BOOK
What caught your eye?
Opening the visitor book…
