Pair of Pistols with Flintlocks a Las Tres Modas

These pistols with flintlocks were created by the Ybarzabel family workshop in the late 18th or early 19th century. These beautiful, yet deadly objects reflect the fashions and social structures of their time in Eibar, Spain. The inscription “a las tres modas” suggests an awareness of international styles – perhaps Parisian neoclassicism, or the English taste for understated elegance. But the fine metalwork and use of precious materials also reflects Spain’s colonial wealth, extracted from the Americas through violence and exploitation. Objects like these remind us that gunsmiths were not just artisans but also entrepreneurs, responding to consumer demand in a world of increasing global trade. To fully understand these pistols, we would need to consult trade records, family papers, and museum collections. These are potent symbols of power, status, and the dark side of globalization.