Door Lintel of James McKenzie

Description

Between 1701 and 1750 A.D B1978.48 This stone lintel is carved in relief and was orginally set in a building on the east side of Market Street, Brechin. The building was presumably the home and workshop of James McKenzie, a gunsmith. From 1600 to 1760 there were at least three gunsmiths active in Brechin at any one time. The best-recorded, McKenzie, entered as an apprentice to James Langlands in 1693 and was made a free master of his craft by 1701. Six of his pistols are known to have survived. The lintel depicts two pistols and part of a musket. Note the flintlock pistols have round pommels and trigger guards. Scottish pistols tended to not possess trigger guards and McKenzie favoured a heart-shaped pommel in his designs. Not currently on display Angus Council Collections managed by ANGUSalive Museums, Galleries & Archives