Dickert Flintlock Rifle

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| This particular Flintlock Rifle was made by Jacob Dickert around 1785-1790. Dickert moved to America in 1748 with his parents from Germany. A year later he started an apprenticeship as a gunsmith. Soon afterwords, Dickert began to produce long barrel guns such as the, Flintlock Rifle, which were used by the U.S. Army in the 17th and 18th century. The gun measures out to be 57 3/8 x 6 1/2 x 2 3/16 in or life size to the average person. The material used on the gun was maple, iron, and brass. The stock and barrel are both made out of maple wood. Then brass and ivory are used throughout the engravings and inlays. Now for a piece like this, to say how it’s balanced is different than it would be for a painting or even a sculpture. As said before the rifle has brass scroll work which is contrasted by the dark stain of the maple. They are also contrasted through the lines that the brass makes and the solid block of color that the maple makes. One with enough knowledge of art would describe the Flintlock Rifle to have formal symmetrical balance, for the inlays and engravings are the same on both sides of the gun. The intention of the rifle isn’t for hunting or war like many would think a gun would be used for. For this particular gun the intention was to show power, strength and wealth. In today’s life many people show their power, strength and wealth generally through the vehicle that they drive. For example, those who buy large trucks generally don’t take them off the road with huge loads. For some today but for many back in the 17th century had large decretive guns whose sole purpose in life was to sit in a case or on the wall of meeting rooms. Then when visitors, friend or foe, alike would come and meet in the same room of the gun, they would see the owner has some kind of high power. The audience of the rifle would be basically anyone who had

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