GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
ELABORATELY DECORATED AND ELEGANT CASED PAIR OF FRENCH SILVER GILT MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS IN THE OTTOMAN STYLE FIRST QUARTER OF THE 19TH CENTURY.FRENCHHOLSTER PISTOLSNSN50 CALThe pistols with slightly rounded locks ending in a tail, goose neck cocks, and elegantly shaped pans and roller bearing frizzens. Barrels are round with turnings at the breech gold fore-sights, and gold trough rear sights. The locks are engraved with latters in imitation of a European maker's address. The full silver gilt mounts are cast and chased in relief with swags of fruit, flowers, and acanthus. Triggers are gilt silver, cast, chased, and pierced in relief en suite. The dark walnut full-stocks are nearly entirely covered with silver wirework and inlaid flowers enriched with silver pellets. There is no provision for a ramrod in keeping with the Ottoman style. The case is brass bound rosewood lined in purple velvet, containing a full set of accessories including fine shaped powder flask, bullet mold, screwdrivers, and a fine steel and brass "sneath" decorated with bone, the rammer preferred throughout the Ottoman Empire. Note: The case and accessories have most likely been added at a later date. CONDITION: Locks and barrels are mostly smooth grey metal. Stocks are good with a few very minor marks. The silver gilt mounts themselves are crisp with considerable wear and loss to the gilding. Remarkably the incredibly elaborate silver wirework is intact with few if any losses. This is an incredibly showy and attractive pair of flintlock pistols that will appeal to the collector of high art guns. 50770-1 MRZ (12,000-18,000)