Matchlock gun
Indian
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1670 - 1730
Materials
Lacquer, iron, steel, silver and paint
Measurements
1500 mm (L)
Place of origin
India
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180568
Summary
Firearm. Matchlock gun. The octagonal watered steel barrel well-figured and terminating with the head of a 'makara', or mythical water beast and inlaid with silver. The stock painted with gold flowers on a ground of black lacquer. Silver mounts. The iron ramrod silvered and gilt. The breech with cartouche set with an inscribed gold plaque. India, late 17th/ early 18th century. Inventory mark on lower sling swivel. See catalogue 'Treasures from India' pg.64 / no.66.
Full description
Fine quality matchlock gun, Indian, c1690 - 1710. Heavy octagonal watered steel barrel of very fine quality, formed in 3 sections, each separated by a moulded concave ring, each side with a band of ogee moulded silver ribbon. Each of these sections is decorated with silver Damascene designs. The breech section is formed with a thick raised sighting ramp decorated with silver band; the top flat of the breech is inset with a large zoomorphic gold makers cartouche inscribed “Allah Ya Nasr min Allah wa fath gharib” (O God! O Ali! Triumph comes from God and Victory is near). The muzzle is chiselled in the form of an opened mouthed “makara” or water beast (its eyes formed with copper inserts). The muzzle has a silver blade and copper bead foresight, which imitates the comb and nose of the monster. The barrel has an integral flash-pan with small hexagonal cover. The gun has a silver-plated steel ramrod with a flared hexagonal tip. It is retained to the stock by 5 pierced and silver-gilt barrel bands, each formed as a “cusped arch” with floral designs. Barrel Length: 101.5 cm Calibre: 20mm Wooden full stock with curving butt, decorated over its entire length with gold foliate designs against a ground of black lacquer. There is a silver-gilt plate on the right side of the stock with 3 holders, one containing a touch-hole pricker attached by a chain, the others, one in the form of a fish - the other as a tigers head, are empty. The fore-stock has 2 sling swivels. Indian-type match lock the mechanism enclosed within the stock. The silver gilt serpentine or match holder (in the form of a birds head) protrudes through a slot in the stock, just behind the barrel. The trigger is formed as a pierced silver gilt flat bar on underside of stock. Overall length of gun: 150cm
Provenance
Collected by Robert Clive (1725-1774). In the 'list of Packages belonging to Lord Clive' c.1765, there is 'One Moorish Gun'. Accepted by HM Treasury on 21st March, 1963 in lieu of tax and conveyed to National Trust ownership on 29th November 1963.
Makers and roles
Indian , maker