Eine Radschlossbüchse aus dem Besitz des Eichstätter Fürstbischofs Johann Konrad von Gemmingen (1595 – 1612)

Abstract

The essay presents a wheel-lock rifle from the end of the 16th century. Its stock is richly decorated with inlays of engraved and blackened bone panels depicting hunting scenes as well as scenes from the bible, classical mythology and history.
Two of the depictions are based on contemporary engravings from the emblem book Mikrokosmos = Parvus Mundus by Laurentius Haechtanus and Gerald de Jode (Antwerp 1579).
Several artists were involved in the production of this wheel-lock rifle. The barrel was made by the Munich gunsmith Johann Pichler. One of the bone panels near the muzzle contains information about the gun stock maker known as ‘Master with the Grasshopper’ [Meister mit der Heuschrecke]. It is possible that the production of the firearm also involved artists of the ‘Munich School’ whose style was influenced by artists from the Netherlands working at the Munich Court.
The coat-of-arms on the butt plate points to the former owner, Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, Prince-Bishop of Eichstätt between 1595 and 1612, whose great passion for the hunt was well-known.