This set, which consists of a flintlock rifle, two pistols and weapon maintenance tools, was created at the very beginning of the 19th century by the French master Nicolas-Noël Boutet. The French Revolution brought with it changes in various spheres of life, including art. The Rococo was replaced by the Empire with references to Greco-Roman and culture. The butts are inlaid with sheet silver and gold, covered with floral ornaments and decorated with images from ancient mythology (Artemis leaning on a bow, accompanied by a hunting dog).
The set is recognized as one of the most valuable and luxurious creations created in the Bute manufactory. Although the company produced weapons for ordinary soldiers, the master was responsible for the development of individual copies, which were handed over to military figures and heads of state. In total, over 600 thousand weapons were produced under the guidance of the gunsmith. The master himself managed to work at the court of King Louis XVI and during the reign of Napoleon. After the fall of the king, skilled artisans lost their jobs, and under the new government, Bute was able to hire enough specialists.
Bute kits were and still are extremely expensive. The cost of a set with nine guns and a pair of pistols, presented to the King of Spain, Charles IV, amounted to 130 thousand francs. Most of the master's works can be seen in museums in France, but some are found in other places: in the Tower (London), City Museum and Art Gallery (Glasgow), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).
