The Embellishment of Firearms: An Art of its Own

From the beginning, handheld guns have invited the development and application of a wide range of ornamental design and techniques. Far from conforming slavishly to the prevailing conventions in the decorative arts, guns played an important part in establishing original trends and styles, encouraging great artists to demonstrate their full measure.

Dr. Pierre Terjanian is the Arthur Ochs Curator in Charge Department of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A native of Strasbourg, France, Terjanian obtained a master’s degree in law from Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas, a master of science degree in management from HEC Paris, and a doctoral degree in history from Université de Metz’s Faculté de Lettres et Sciences Humaines. Pierre Terjanian joined The Met in 2012. Previously, he held the dual role of J. J. Medveckis Associate Curator of Arms and Armor and acting head of the Department of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture before 1700 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.