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A pair of silver-mounted French flintlock pistols bearing the arms of the Dukes of Noailles image 1
A pair of silver-mounted French flintlock pistols bearing the arms of the Dukes of Noailles image 2
Lot 4363ANTIQUE

A pair of silver-mounted French flintlock pistols bearing the arms of the Dukes of Noailles
by Antoine Berthaut, Paris, first quarter 18th century

17 November 2008, 10:00 PST
San Francisco

Sold for US$9,360 inc. premium

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A pair of silver-mounted French flintlock pistols bearing the arms of the Dukes of Noailles
by Antoine Berthaut, Paris, first quarter 18th century

Each with 9 inch .56 caliber tapered round barrel decorated with gold overlaid banding at muzzle, leafy scrolls framing the silver fore-sights, strapwork and banding at the breeches and on the sighting ribs signed Berthaut A Paris. Tangs engraved with lion masks. Locks engraved with dentate borders, the stepped tails with cupids and hounds. Lockplates signed Bertaut/A Paris and marked under the cocks F. Tivet/Lecadet. Hallmarked silver furniture: triggerguards with acanthus finials; pierced, scrolling sideplates incorporating monster heads; spurred buttcaps molded with masks and scrollwork with central panel of a female warrior a la antique; wrist escutcheons surmounted by ducal crowns and bearing the coat-of-arms of Noailles, gules, a ben or. Full walnut stocks relief-carved with floral scrolls and inlaid with silver wire scrollwork. Ramrods with steel caps.
Condition: Very good to fine. Barrels with grey metal showing light pitting and some wear to gilt decoration. Locks have been cleaned but show generally sharp engraving, one with replaced cock, the action in need of adjustment. Silver furniture showing wear from cleaning. Stocks sound and showing scattered light marks. One pistol showing more wear to furniture and stock than the other.
See Illustration

Footnotes

Note: Antoine Berthault (Bertaut), Paris, 1681-1717. Francois Thivet (Tivet), St. Etienne, 1698-1754.

Probably made for Adrian Maurice, 3rd Duke of Noailles, 1678-1766. He inherited the title in 1708 and made a Marshal of France in 1734. He served in the War of the Spanish Succession (1710-13), the War of the Polish Succession (1733-38) where he distinguished himself, and in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48), where he was defeated at the Battle of Dettingen. He was Foreign Minister of France in 1744.

Additional information

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