Wheellock Arquebus, Italy, circa 1625 to 1630 - Museum of Paris
Now admittedly I like the below mentioned body parts of a certain persuasion in my face as much as the next guy ... but this is NOT for those shooting left-handed!
"This arquebus appears to come from Southern Italy and is fitted with a Portuguese-style wheellock. Arquebuses from this region, of significant Hispanic influence, display unique attention to the workmanship on their mounts. Thus, on this piece signed CHISA on the buttstock, we can see a true ronde-bosse (encrusted enamel) composition. The theme portrayed shows a bare-breasted woman sitting astride a billy goat and holding onto a faun or satyr, her hands tied behind her back with her hair. It is clearly inspired by an ancient depiction of Aphrodite. The billy goat was a symbol of lust in medieval society. This inaccurate reputation stuck with the animal for centuries, but was also alleged to be associated with witches and vice. However, the arquebus decoration is not limited to the stock, as the barrel with smooth sides and bore boasts fine engravings of foliage along half of its length. An unidentified stamp (AC) is also present on the ball."
Now admittedly I like the below mentioned body parts of a certain persuasion in my face as much as the next guy ... but this is NOT for those shooting left-handed!
"This arquebus appears to come from Southern Italy and is fitted with a Portuguese-style wheellock. Arquebuses from this region, of significant Hispanic influence, display unique attention to the workmanship on their mounts. Thus, on this piece signed CHISA on the buttstock, we can see a true ronde-bosse (encrusted enamel) composition. The theme portrayed shows a bare-breasted woman sitting astride a billy goat and holding onto a faun or satyr, her hands tied behind her back with her hair. It is clearly inspired by an ancient depiction of Aphrodite. The billy goat was a symbol of lust in medieval society. This inaccurate reputation stuck with the animal for centuries, but was also alleged to be associated with witches and vice. However, the arquebus decoration is not limited to the stock, as the barrel with smooth sides and bore boasts fine engravings of foliage along half of its length. An unidentified stamp (AC) is also present on the ball."
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