A Very Fine Pair Of 15-Bore Silver-Mounted Flintlock Holster Pistols
A Very Fine Pair Of 15-Bore Silver-Mounted Flintlock Holster Pistols
By Edward Bate Of London, London Silver Hallmarks For 1769, Maker's Mark Of John King
With blued two-stage Spanish barrels each with turned and chiselled muzzle-ring and girdle, the breeches inlaid with silver and with nine gold-lined fleur-de-lys marks around two gold-lined punzónes of I.P. Esteva of Barcelona (some gold missing), gold-lined touch-holes, shaped tangs finely cut with scrolling foliage on a hatched ground, flat locks each with moulded border, signed 'Bate' within a rococo cartouche, and engraved with scrollwork on a hatched ground on the stepped tail, safety-catch, and cock, faceted gold-lined pans, engraved steels each with roller (one cock expertly replaced, the other repaired), moulded figured full stocks each carved in relief with flowers, foliage and a shell at the barrel tang, and a further shell to the rear of each lock and side-plate, full silver mounts finely cast and chased in relief, comprising side-plates pierced with an elaborate trophy of arms, trigger-guards decorated with rocailles, flowers and shells in relief against a punched ground on the bow and each with shell and flower finial, vacant trophy of arms escutcheons each surmounted by a Classical helmet, engraved spurred pommels with a frieze of running scrolls in relief against on a punched ground encircling the grotesque mask caps, and baluster ramrod-pipes, and original ramrods each with iron worm and engraved silver tip (2)
25.2 cm. barrels
Sold for £30,000 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Provenance:
    R.J. Lindesay, Esq., Christie's London, Antique Arms and Armour, 9 June 1982, lot 262 (£5,940 including premium)

    Edward Bate, apprenticed in Birmingham, was one of the leading London gunmakers of the 1760s and 1770s. He is recorded in Brownlow Street, Long Acre from 1763 to 1778, and his signature appears on numerous air weapons, and on silver-mounted guns and pistols, almost invariably highly finished. He was Contractor to Ordnance, 1779-83 and later in partnership with William Jover, c. 1805-10

Category: Arms and Armour


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