Wheel lock mechanism (fragment)
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Steel, chiselled and engraved
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Arms and armour are rarely associated with art. However, they were influenced by the same design sources as other art forms including architecture, sculpture, goldsmiths' work, stained glass and ceramics. These sources had to be adapted to awkwardly shaped devices required to perform complicated technical functions. Armour and weapons were collected as works of art as much as military tools.
This fragment os from a wheel-lock, the mechanism that once enabled a gun to fire. The jaws of the lock clamped a piece of flint or a piece or pyrites designed to rub against the rough edge of a wheel projecting into the pan. The wheel was revolved at speed by a tightly coiled spring, wound by a separate spanner, and released when the gun's trigger was pulled causing sparks to ignite the gunpowder in the breech.
Sketches for wheel-locks were made by Leonardo da Vinci but their first common use was in Germany in around 1520 and they continued in use until the late seventeenth century. They were the first devices to fire guns mechanically and accelerated the development of firearms by negating the need for long and dangerous 'match' cords which had to be kept dry. They enable guns to be carried loaded and as gunpowder became more powerful in the mid-16th century encouraged the development of smaller guns including the pistol.
As technical devices wheel-locks attracted princely collectors. Many, like this one, are finely chiselled and engraved as works of art, some even on their insides, to be taken apart and reassembled at pleasure. Wheel-locks were expensive, however, and most ordinary gunners were equipped with the older style match-locks until well into the seventeenth century.
Physical description
Wheel lock mechanism chiselled in relief with scenes from the education of Achilles. Cheiron is teaching the young Achilles to shoot a stag while on the right, Vulcan is at his forge.
Place of Origin
Germany (made)
Date
17th century (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Steel, chiselled and engraved
Dimensions
Length: 7.5 in
Historical context note
Arms and armour are rarely associated with art. However, they were influenced by the same design sources as other art forms including architecture, sculpture, goldsmiths' work, stained glass and ceramics. These sources had to be adapted to awkwardly shaped devices required to perform complicated technical functions. Armour and weapons were collected as works of art as much as military tools.
This fragment os from a wheel-lock, the mechanism that once enabled a gun to fire. The jaws of the lock clamped a piece of flint or a piece or pyrites designed to rub against the rough edge of a wheel projecting into the pan. The wheel was revolved at speed by a tightly coiled spring, wound by a separate spanner, and released when the gun's trigger was pulled causing sparks to ignite the gunpowder in the breech.
Sketches for wheel-locks were made by Leonardo da Vinci but their first common use was in Germany in around 1520 and they continued in use until the late seventeenth century. They were the first devices to fire guns mechanically and accelerated the development of firearms by negating the need for long and dangerous 'match' cords which had to be kept dry. They enable guns to be carried loaded and as gunpowder became more powerful in the mid-16th century encouraged the development of smaller guns including the pistol.
As technical devices wheel-locks attracted princely collectors. Many, like this one, are finely chiselled and engraved as works of art, some even on their insides, to be taken apart and reassembled at pleasure. Wheel-locks were expensive, however, and most ordinary gunners were equipped with the older style match-locks until well into the seventeenth century.
Descriptive line
Wheel lock mechanism chiselled in relief with scenes from the education of Achilles. Cheiron is teaching the young Achilles to shoot a stag while on the right, Vulcan is at his forge.
Materials
Steel
Techniques
Engraved; Chiselled
Subjects depicted
Vulcan; Achilles
Categories
Metalwork; Arms & Armour; Firearms
Collection code
MET
