April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Silver sideplates, silver thumb piece; made for John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu and dated 1733. Louis Barbar along with Andrew Dolep was one of a group of famous gunmakers who emigrated from France to escape persecution as Huguenots. Barbar became personal gunsmith to King George I. This splendid pair of pistols was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1971 as part of a collection of Clay P. Bedford, one of the pair is illustrated on page 136 and described on pages 135 and 137. The 9" three stage brass barrels are signed "Barbar" with gunmakers proofs and Barbar's person proof "LB", each with silver foresights, and engraved at breeches. Convex locks engraved with border and scroll, and "BARBAR" in reserve. Each barrel with its own brass pan. Tangs and breeches elaborately engraved; barrel tang with an oriflamme. Swan necks cocks engraved with border and scroll. Frizzens engraved with heart-shape border. These are grooved in the Spanish manner. Walnut butt and full sideplate stocks. Silver thumb pieces with Ducal Coronet and Montagu arms, also engraved "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE", the motto of a Knight of the Garter. Pistols have an elaborate cast and chased silver sideplate. Plain steel trigger guard which depresses to turn the barrels. Silver baluster ramrod pipes. Pistols have a unique arm screwed to left side of breech with hooks over pan cover when closed to prevent pan cover from being pushed open when pistol is removed from its holster. Pistols have a spurred silver buttcap, likely replacing the original brass when pistols were presented in January of 1733 by the Duke to Henry, Earl of Pembroke. Presentation inscription reads "Given by John, Duke of Montagu to Henry, Earl of Pembroke Jan. 1733". Elegant pistols are 16" overall. CONDITION: Brass on pistols with minor wear, to be expected. Steel parts polished bright. Engraving on breeches extremely crisp and fine. All four frizzens appear to be the original. Both cocks original, as are small parts. Silver with only minor wear to coat of arms and sideplate. Silver presentation buttcaps with wear to inscription from polishing. Walnut stocks with minor marks on one pistol and some of what appears to be original finish; the other pistol with a period repair at right side, just behind the breech held by an ancient nail. One ramrod with worm, obviously the original; the other appears to be a period replacement. Bores are good, as one would expect with brass barrels. Actions of both pistols are crisp. Note: Duke Monagu's pistols are illustrated in color in the book, by the renowned dealer and export Howard Ricketts, titled "Firearms - Pleasures and Treasures" plate 86, page 81. A truly remarkable pair of pistols by a royal gunmaker at his best with traceable history, unique construction, and sure to please the most advanced collector of best English flintlock pistols as they pleased Mr. Bedford.
Caliber/Bore
.58 Smoothbore
Paperwork
Copy of "Firearms: Pleasures and Treasures" by Ricketts