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Matchlock Musket
Matchlock Musket
Image © Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Matchlock Musket

Culture
Date1800-1850
Mediumwood, iron, laquer, silver and brass
Dimensions102.9 × 75.6 cm (40 1/2 × 29 3/4 in.), 15 lb 12 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.613
DescriptionHeavy russeted iron barrel of octagonal section, with flared muzzle of like section, & having front sight blade & stepped rear sight block. Decorated overall with silver-inlaid dragons, clouds & Japanese characters & the Hanabusa clan "mon" at breech. Black-lacquered wood stock to base of muzzle, with ramrod slot & rod. Polygonal, long, slender butt. Forward-acting snap-matchlock inlaid with silver droplets; gently curved, flat brass lockplate & lug trigger. Iron pan with laterally hinged brass cover.
Label TextThe Portugese introduced the tanegashima (matchlock) into Japan in 1543 and Japanese swordsmiths were employed to learn how to make them. Samurai arms and armor, and by then antiquated firearms such as the matchlock, last saw major combat during the Satsuma rebellion of 1877, when the new imperial army defeated the samurai. According to the inscription on this musket its overall decoration of silver-inlaid dragons and clouds was created by the major swordsmith school of Tanba Kami (Yoshimichi). The repeating Hanabusa clan emblem (mon) of three birds suggests that this musket may have been part of a commissioned set.ProvenanceGiulia P. Morosini (New York) purchased by the Museum at the American Art Association (NYC), 10-15 October 1932, part of lot 154. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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