Dubbelloops vuursteenpistool c. 1660

This is a double-barrelled flintlock pistol made by Cornelis Coster, and held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. While we don't have an exact date, the style of ornamentation suggests a date in the 18th century. This was a period in which firearms started to become more widely available, and gunsmiths like Coster responded to increased demand by developing more sophisticated and reliable weapons. The double barrel is a practical innovation – two shots are better than one – but the silver inlays and engraved decoration also suggests a certain level of wealth and status on the part of the gun's owner. The double-barrelled flintlock pistol is therefore an object that speaks to the complex social dynamics of its time. It's a weapon of violence, but also an object of beauty, and a symbol of power. To understand it better, we might consult contemporary gun catalogues, military records, or even literature and paintings that depict firearms in action. These resources would provide additional context for understanding the role of this particular object within the broader social and cultural landscape of its time.