The Lorenzoni repeating flintlock gun from the Gatchina Palace and Estate Museum is a true masterpiece of the Italian art of gunmaking of the late 17th century. It could be the pride of collection of any museum in the world. Such high esteem is well justified. The construction of the gun was the best and the most popular among other repeating flintlock guns until the 19th century. In this case the term ‘repeating’ means the ability of the gun, once loaded, fire more than 10 successive shots. The present gun is fitted with an especially complex mechanism, which was used only by Michele Lorenzoni himself. The system was called after him. In order to load the gun and to fire a shot it was necessary first to hold it muzzle up and then — muzzle down, while turning the handle on the left side of the stock in a certain manner. An experienced shooter could load the gun within 3–4 seconds, which was much faster than the loading of a standard flintlock gun. Initially the repeating gun was accompanied with two pistols of the same design and decoration. Unfortunately, those pistols along with some other most expensive and rare exhibits were taken from the Gatchina Museum armoury on March 24, 1930, and sold abroad. Later the pistols were kept in the private collection of William Goodwin Renwick in Tucson, Arizona. After his death they were sold again on July 17, 1972, at Sotheby’s for a record price of 60,000 pounds (or 144,000 dollars according to the exchange rate of the time). Their current owner is unknown. The upper side of the gun barrel at the breech end is decorated with an engraved floral pattern. On the upper plane there is an inscription: “Lorenzoni”. The fore-end is covered with engraved images. On the left side there is a winged female figure with a crown in her right hand and a trumpet in her left hand. Next to her there is an oval shield and an eagle and under the image there is another inscription reading “Lorenzoni”. On the right side of the fore-end there is an engraved image of a tree and under it — an angel sitting on a cloud. The frizzen spring is protected by a metal cover with an engraved trumpeting angel and the third inscription “Lorenzoni” along its lower edge. The hummer is decorated with in relief plant stems. The head of the hummer screw is made in a form of a satyr’s head.
№28 Lorenzoni repeating flintlock gun
Время создания
1700–1710s
Место создания
Florence
Размер
overall length — 128,5 cm; barrel length — 84 cm; calibre — 14 mm
Техника
forging, wood carving, engraving, casting
Коллекция
#1
Michele Lorenzoni
№28 Lorenzoni repeating flintlock gun
#2
#3
Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
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№28 Lorenzoni repeating flintlock gun
Время создания
1700–1710s
Место создания
Florence
Размер
overall length — 128,5 cm; barrel length — 84 cm; calibre — 14 mm
Техника
forging, wood carving, engraving, casting
Коллекция

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