Statuette of a musketeer, 1684 (c)

Silver, full length figurine with rectangular base by Mappin and Webb, hallmarked London, 1896-1897. The figurine stands on an ebonised wood plinth.

The musketeer has his musket with its butt on ground, and wears a bandolier of powder charges known as the 'twelve apostles'.

The statuette is associated with the Royal Irish Regiment.

In the 17th century, independent companies of musketeers and pikemen garrisoned Ireland under both Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II. In 1684, the final year of Charles's reign, several of these companies were gathered together by the Earl of Granard to form a new regiment on the Irish establishment. In the conflict between Charles' successor, James II, and his son-in-law, William of Orange (later William III), the regiment split. The companies that joined William were placed on the English establishment in 1689. The regiment fought for William and his successors in Flanders throughout the 1690s and 1700s. It played an important role in the capture of the French fortress of Namur (now in Belgium) in 1695. This period was also interspersed with service as marines and garrison duty in Ireland and England. In 1751, it was given a regimental numeral of 18, despite being the seventh oldest British infantry regiment at that time.