a seventeenth century matchlock ?

[Raf]

regarding a Dutch connection are we not missing the obvious ? Tulipomania 1637...

[cornelistromp]

Hi RAF,

well , the time span is exactly right between 1634-1637 there was a tulip buying anger with ridiculously high prices that were paid for it in the Netherlands.

I have also dated the musket with Dutch decoration in previous posts between 1630-1640.

some facts about the Tulp(en)manie;
In January 1637 tulip bulbs were sold for more than ten times the annual salary of a skilled craftsman, and they were about as much worth as an Amsterdam canal house. this was of course absolutely ridiculous, but did happen.

this situation in 1637 was quite similar to the banking crisis we just had/have now, a huge bubble that collapses.

The inlay on muskets that were used in Netherlands had often symbolism in the images.
see for example the oranges on musket from post 2, these represent the royal house of Orange (oranje Nassau) from the 16th century until now.
further oranges were like tulips a very expensive status product in the netherlands, William of Orange (WIII) every winter had his orange trees by his gardeners put inside where the temperature was right.

best,
Jasper

[cornelistromp]

another dutch musket, essentially another dutch style decorated version of the northern European military muskets of the 16th - 17th century.
the barrel is inscribed with the Dutch phrase; EENDRACH MAK MACH

in latin "concordia res parvae crescunt" unity makes strength in the 16thC Dutch Republic took over the phrase as its motto and it appeared on several of its coins and coats of arms.

and another in the rijksmuseum.

best,
jasper

[Raf]

And finally , a matchlock dated 1629 , Musee de l' Armee , Paris , which I think shows that this decoration can be consistent with this style of butt.