Page 73 - March 23, 2022 Sotheby's NYC Fine Chinese Works of Art

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A RARE SIX-BARRELLED SILVER DAMASCENED 清初 穿花龍紋六管轉輪火繩槍 This impressive gun is exceptional for its lavish silver Wanli period (1573-1620). According the Shenqipu (Catalogue
MATCHLOCK REVOLVING GUN decoration of undulating dragons among billowing clouds of weapons) written by Zhao Shizhen (1553-1611) in 1598,
EARLY QING DYNASTY 來源 interspersed with crossed vajras, running the length of its a special type of gun named Xuanji yihu (Revolving winged
long barrel. Matchlocks, such as the present piece, were
tiger) is designed with a triple-barrel that rotates after each
Length 61⅜ in., 155.8 cm 法國外交官收藏，二十世紀初得於亞洲 introduced into China around the early 16th century through shot triggered by the matchlock mechanism (see vol. 2, p.
購於法國，2015年 sea and overland routes by the Europeans and Turks. With 29 for illustration). Another revolving gun called Wulei shenji
PROVENANCE a deep interest in Western technology, the Qing emperors (The weapon of five thunders) is reputedly to have been
French Diplomatic Collection, acquired in Asia in the early Kangxi (r. 1662-1722) and Qianlong (r. 1736-95) keenly invented by the famous late Ming general Qi Jiguang (1528-
20th century. encouraged the use of guns and officially adopted these 1588), who was mostly known for his glorious defeats of
Acquired in France, 2015. weapons as regulation military equipment. Determined the wokou, the Japanese pirates threatening the southern
to keep in touch with a Manchu lifestyle, the emperors border of the Ming empire in the 16th century. The weapon
◉ $ 60,000-80,000 organized large-scale training hunts and prided themselves is designed with five revolving barrels that can be fired
on their own shooting and riding skills. consecutively using a matchlock mechanism.
The term ‘matchlock’ in firearms refers to a mechanism that Although different in form and size, there are two guns with
allows the gunpowder to be ignited by a match cord, usually decorations related to the present piece, both from the Qing
made of a slow burning rope. A matchlock gun is designed Court Collection and still preserved in the Palace Museum,
with a curved lever called ‘serpentine’ and a protruding Beijing. Damascened in gold with dragons and cloud motifs,
flash pan connecting to the barrel to hold priming powder. these imperial weapons are illustrated in The Complete
Upon pulling the trigger, the serpentine clamping the lighted Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Armaments
match cord will lower into the flash pan, igniting the priming and Military Provisions, Hong Kong, 2008, pls 232 (a flintlock)
powder causing an explosion inside the barrel to push the and 233 (a matchlock).
bullet into projectile. Before the invention of this mechanism, Very few early matchlock firearms from China have appeared
the operator of the firearm or an assistant had to apply the in the recent market. A highly important Qianlong mark and
match directly to the gunpowder by hand. The matchlock period matchlock musket with a single barrel decorated with
mechanism was a step forward in freeing the hand of the gold, silver and copper inlay was sold in our London rooms,
user, which could be a substantial advantage in battle. 9th November 2016, lot 100; and another with a carved
Revolving matchlock guns are no stranger to the Chinese lacquer stock, attributed to the Qianlong or Jiaqing period,
tradition. Weapons of this design are known at least by the was sold at Christie’s New York, 23rd March 2011, lot 1447.

142 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N10917 143