Lot 475 – From the Household of Louis XVI
AN EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF 60-BORE FLINTLOCK IVORY & GILT-MOUNTED TRAVELLING PISTOLS, UNSIGNED, circa 1770 and in the renaissance style, with blued round tapering 5 1/4in. barrels (some dark staining), moulded, engraved and gilded muzzle bands, carved and chisel engraved blind raised half sighting ribs incorporating applied gilded fore-sights and three fleur-de-lys in the design, finely chisel engraved raised acanthus vines at breech surmounted by a further fleur-de-lys, gilded acanthus moulded band at rear of breech.
Fully chisel engraved solid top-tang, fully gilded flat slightly curved bevel-edged lockplate with moulded border full chisel engraved with vines inhabited by mythical beasts, integral lozenge-shaped pans, the undersides engraved with a fleur-de-lys, carved, moulded and chisel engraved blued cocks, blued bridle-less frizzens, the front faces carved with masks of the ‘green man’, blued frizzen springs with carved edges, moulded ivory full-stocks (some chipping around both locks and age related cracks) with carved borders around the furniture, the grips and foreends inlaid with gold wire scrolls, carved, moulded and engraved crowned escutcheons to both wrists bearing the raised coat of arms of Louis XVI, shallow domed chisel engraved gilded butt- caps with moulded borders, en-suite gilded sideplates with central engraved panels, gilded and engraved bevel-edged trigger guard tangs and bows with carved fleur-de-lys finials, the design inverted and repeated on the ramrod throats, turned and engraved faceted ramrod thimbles and ebony ramrods with engraved and gilded tips.
Estimate £8,000 – £12,00 View the catalogue and bid online at www.holtsauctioneers.com