Arms and armor for hunting, war, and ceremonial occa ions have always b een among man's most treasured posses ions. These objects, therefore, were subject to special care and lavish decoration commensurate with the owner's wealth and social status. Since the Renais ance, firea rms have seen p rogressi ve improvements in effi ciency. Guns and , which had come to be considered mechanical marvels, were made by the most killful craftsmen and decorated by the most talented artisans. When embellishing weapons, these artisans often chose the mo t pectacular - and most difficult - method of teel decor·ation , known as dama cening II (named for Damascus, the city where this ancient technique first flourished). In this process, a pattern is chiseled into a teel surface; next , a soft, high-grade gold wire or foil is hammered into the chiseled grooves; finally, the decora tion i fini hed with afine gravr and polished flush with the steel surface. Larger figures and other ornamental motifs are sometimes incrusted into steel in a similar manner and left in relief. The more important damascened areas may be enhanced by engraving, which can cover Ill IV the surrounding teel. The decorated object is often blued , chemicaUy or by heat, since the resulting color contrast between the blued steel and gold makes the ornament more visible. Although mass production of firearms became possible in the nineteenth century, the tradition of hand-crafted gun decoration did not end. New forms of firearm and new materials used in theirv construction influe n ced artistic standards and ornamental technique . In the , some prominent engravers, including Gustav Young and

Louis Daniel Nimschke (both active v c.l850-l900), introduced and developed a specific style of firearm decoration that has been widely foUowed by artisans ever since. The distinctive feature of this style is an abundance of seroUs and arabesques that were finely engraved on the blued- steel parts of the weapon. These exuberant scroUwork patterns sati sfi ed Victorian taste and enjoyed widespread popularity before 1900. Many ofthe most luxurious presentation weapons of the nine teenth century feature floral VI VII pattet·ns, animal figures, and symbolic imagery executed in gold incrustation and finish ed with chiseling and engraving. While generally superseded by new artistic trends toward the turn of the century, this type of decoration has remained the great favorite of American arms collector and firearm decorators. Pistols decorated by Raymond J. Wielgus (born1920) show an entirely new approach both to the art of the gun decorator and to the selection of omamental motifs. His background may provide some clue as to his unique approach to his craft. Wielgus studied art at the Univet· ity of Illinois, and he was trained a a wood carver and an industrial model designer. H e later VIII worked as a restorer of museum artifacts. He also studied and collected objects of primitive art and became a recognized expert in .this fi eld. At the same time , he d e veloped a keen inte r est in the d ecoration of firearms. Since his retirement in 1970 he has devoted considerable time and energy to the study a nd practice of the decorative technique IX X used b y artist metal-workers of the past. While Wielgus continues to use the ancient technique of damascening, hi decorative de igns are far removed from traditional scrollwot·k pattern of most gun decorators. His repertoire of omamental motifs, mostly inspired by Art Nouveau and Art Deco , is Refreshingly new in firearms decoration a nd, at the ame time , cotTesponds perfectly to the technical d e igns and functional forms of the pistols produced in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Other pattern developed by Wielgus seem to derive from elements found in the primitive art that he has studied and admired. XI Not content with simply applying decoration to a plain standard-issue Captions . 1884; dec·oratcd 1982. Barrel. . a nd frame of blu ed weapon , Wielgu normally refines a Cover : Colt Single- Army revolver . 1969: decor a t.ed 1975. stt•e l. damascened wi th gold : grip of car ved a nd engraved ivory: in Barrel. cylinder . a nd frame of blued steel . engra ved and damascened fiddle-back koa wood c·ase (wi th acce sorie ). (Checklist no. 7 .) VII. pi tol' hape b y remodeling its wi th gold and silver; grip of carved ivo r y. (Checklist no. 2.) II . Bergma nn Model 1896 semi-automatic , f'. 1900: decor ated component parts with fil es . The result is a walther PPKS semi-automatic pistol. 1974; decorated 1975. slide 1980 . Barrel. acti on, and frame of blued steel. damascened with go ld ; Lighter and more elegant form that is and frame of blued 81f't·l. engr aved and damas<'t!ned with gold and grip of ('arvt'd ivor y; i11 nmcassarebony cnse wi th damascened mounts subsequently emphasized by linear gold- silver ; grip of can•ed ebony. inlaid with ivory. (Checklist no. 23.) Ill. (wi th accessor ies). (Ciw f' klist no. 26.) VIII. Colt Double-Action damascened decoration along the pistol's Browning .. Baby'' semi automatic pistol, c. 1938: decorated 1980. Frontier Sheriff's 1878 Model revolver. C'. 1900. decorated 1983. Slide and fra me of blued 81t: c l. damascened wi th gold ; grip of f' arved Barrel. cylinder . and frame of blued steel. d amascened wi th gold; ed ges. ivory; rosewood cnse (with accessories). (Checklist no. 2 1. ) IV. grip of ca rved ivory. (Checklist no. 8 .) IX. Remington New Army

Firearms decoration traditionally Browning Model 1935 Semi-Automatic Pistol c. 1938: decorated Model revolver f ' . 1870 ; decorated 1986. Burrel, cylinder . and fra me involves severalartisans, apart from the 1976. Slideand frame of blued 11 teel, damascened wi th gold ; gr ip of of blued steel. cl amasf:ened with gold ; grip of car ved ivo r y. (Checklist guns miths who make the barrel, f'n r ved ivory and set wi th gold studs; walnut c· ase (with accessor ies). no. 16 .) X. Smith ami Wesson Model 1-1/2 revolver . c. 1875; mechanical parts, stock , and mounts: an (Checklist no. 20.) V. Pa rabellum Lange (Artille ry) Model .08 decorated 1984. Barrel . cylinder . a nd frame of blued steel. Semi-automatic pistol 19 17; decorated 1976. Barrel and frame of damascened with gold: gril' of car ved ivor y. (Checklist no. 13.) XI. ornament designer produces patterns of blued steel, damas('ened wi th gold and sil ver : gri J' of carved ivo r y; Colt model 1851 Na vy revolver, 1971; decorated 1987. Barrel. decoration, in the form of drawings or fiddle-l, a ck Koa wood case (with acceuories: made in cylinder. and fr ame of blued steel, damasf't- nt-d with go ld; grip of prints; a goldsmith or an iron chiseler 1982).(Checklist no. 24.) VI. Colt Single-Action heriff's Molle/ ca r vt>d ivo ry. (Checklist no. 17.) decorates the steel pieces; a stock 4. Colt Government Model 1911 semi-automatic Belgian Firearms decorator embellishes the grips and pistol, .45 cal. , ser. no. C-124024, 1920; decora ted stocks of carved wood or ivory; a cabinet 1981. Steel, gold, and ivor y; with accessories, in 20. Browning Model 1935 semi-autom atic shedua wood case. 1987 .218. 12a-d . pistol, cal. 9 mm , ser. no. 56835, c. 1938; decorated maker fashions a case with fittings to keep 1976. Steel, gold, and ivor y; with accessories, in a deluxe firearm and its accessories. 5. Colt Lightning Model1877 revolver , .38 cal. , walnut case . 1987 .218.4a-f. Wielgus has learned to perform all these ser . no. 99771, 1895; decorated 1981. Steel, gold , specialized jobs himself: chiseling, and ivor y; with accessories, in ebony case. 21. Browning "Baby" semi-automatic pistol, cal. engraving, and damascening steel ; 1987 .218.13a-c. 6.35 mm , ser . no. 16005, c. 1938; decorated 1980. Steel, gold , and ivor y; with accessories, in carving exotic woods and ivory; and 6. Colt Bisley revolver, .38 W. C:F. cal. , ser . no. rosewood case. 1987 .218.5a-e. inlaying hard woods and precious metals. 248538, 1903; decora ted 1982. Steel, gold , and The d ecoration and fitting of a ivory; with accessories, i.n shedua wood case. 22 . Browing Model 1900 semi-automatic pistol, presentation-quality firearm b y a single 1987. 218.14a-c. .32 caL (8 mm), ser . no. 260331, c. 1920; decorated craftsman is a long cr eative process that 1980. Steel, gold, and ivory; with accessories, in 7. Colt Single-Action Sheriff's Model revolver , English oak case. 1987.218.6a-d . may r equire hundreds of hours of .38 caL ser . no. 104920, 1884; decorated 1982. concentrated work. Steel, gold , and ivor y; with accessories, in fiddle- German Firearms The appreciation of decorated arms back koa wood case. 1987.218.15a-c. has often taken weapons directly from the 23. Walther PPKS semi-automatic pistol, .380 armorer 's workshop into princely 8. Colt Double-Action Frontier Sheriffs 1878 cal. ,ser . no.171944 , 1974;decor ated 1975. Steel, Model revolver, .44-40 cal. , c. 1900; decorated gold , silver , ebony, and ivo ry. 1987.218.1. treasure rooms or collectors' cabinets to 1983. Steel, gold, and ivo ry. 1987.218.16. be preserved in vitrines and proudly 24. Parabellwn Lange (A rtillery) Model .08 shown to admirers of fine a rts. Like his 9. Colt Model 1855 Side-Ha mmer p ock et semi-automatic pistol, cal. 9 mm , ser. no. 7598e, pred ecessors in the field of arms revolver, .31 cal. , 1860/70; decor ated 1983 . Steel, 1917; decor ated 1976. Steel, gold, silver , and ivo ry; d ecoration , Raymond J. Wielgu s gold , and ivor y. 1987.218.17. with accessories, in fi ddle- back koa wood case transforms purely utilitarian and (made in 1982). 1987.218.2a-e. 10. Remington Double-Barreled Derriringer, .38 potentially d eadly objects into works of cal. , ser . no. 400, c. 1900; decorated 1983. Steel, 25. Mauser Model 1896 semi-automatic pistol art; compare,. for instance, a standard gold , and ivory. 1987.218. 18. with attachable shoulder-stock/holster, cal. 7.65 issue Parabellum pistol (checklist no. 27) mm , ser . no. 229563, c. 1920; decor ated 1976. with the same model decorated by 11. Co lt New Service revolver , .45 cal. , ser . no. Steel, gold , walnut, and ivo ry. 1987.218.3a-b. 72 145, 1914; decorated 1984. Steel, gold , and Wielgus (checklist no . 24). As his ivo ry. 1987.218.19. craftsmanship has created an impressive 26. Bergmann Model 1896 semi-automatic pis tol, cal. 5mm , ser . no. 1265. c. 1900; decor ated array of decorated firearms, Wielgus's 12 . Colt Model 1908 semi-autornatic pistol, .25 1980. Steel, gold , and ivo ry; with accessories, in artistic erudition and imagination have cal. , ser. no. 254095, 1920; decor ated 1984. Steel, macassar ebony case, with damascened mounts. produced a new and original page in the gold , and ivory. 1987.218.20. 1987.218.lla-e.

history of arms decoration. Chicago's 13. Smith and Wesson Model 1-112 revolver , .32 27 . Parabellum Lange (A rtillery) Model .08 connoisseurs of the decorative arts cal. , ser . no. 79114, c. 1875; decorated 1984. Steel, semi-automatic pistol, cal. 9 mm , se r . no. 9637d , gold , and ivor y. 1987.218.21. should feel fortunate that this master 1917; standa rd a rmy issue, with attachable craftsman has chosen The Art Institute of shoulder stock . Steel and wood . George F. Harding 14. Smith and Wesson Double-Action Frontier Chicago as the first American museum to Collection, 1982.2948a-b. Model revolver, .44 Russian cal. , ser . no. 822, c. be the custodian of these outstanding 1885; decor ated 1986. Steel, gold , and ivo ry. works of art. 1987.218.22.

Leonid Tarassuk, Consulting Curator 15. Colt Model 1903 (hammer-equipped) semi- of Arms and Armor automatic pistol, .38 cal. , ser . no. 25990, 1910; decor a ted 1986. Steel, gold , a nd ivor y. 1987. 218.23.

16. Remington New Army Model revolver , .44 Unless otherwise noted all objects are gifts of Mr. cal. , c. 1870; decorated 1986. Steel, gold , and and Mrs. Raymond]. Wielgus. ivory. 1987. 218.24. American Firearms 17. Colt Model1851 Navy revolver , .36 cal. new production , ser . no. 4872, 1971; decorated 1987. l. revolver,.22 cal., ser . no. Steel, gold , and ivory. 1987.218.25. 0 29989, 1969; decorated 1974-76. Steel, gold, ebony, and ivory. 1987.218.8. 18. Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver (minia ture version of no. 17), decorated 1987. Steel, gold , and 2. Colt Single -ActionArmy revolver , .45 cal. , se r . ivory. Loan from Raymond]. Wielgus. no. 52532SA, 1969; decor ated 1975. Steel, gold , silver , and ivor y. 1987.218.9. Austrian Firearms 3. North American Arms mini-revolver , .22 cal. , ser . no. B13834, c. 1979; decor ated 1980. Stainless 19. Steyr OWG Model 1909 semi-automatic steel, gold, and ivory; with accessories, in rosewood pistol, cal. 6.35 mm , ser. no. 120719A, c. 1920; case. 1987.218.10a-c. decor ated 1985. Steel, gold, and ivory. 1987.218.7. Photogr aphs by Terry E. Schank