Details
A HIGHLY UNUSUAL 40-BORE ITALIAN FLINTLOCK PISTOL WITH GILT-COPPER MOUNTS
BY GIOVANNI SOLBIATE IN BRESCIA, CIRCA 1730
With shortened gilt-copper barrel (repaired) signed in full on the sighting flat and cast and chased in relief at the breech with a portrait bust of a Roman emperor suspended from ribbons, gilt-copper tang chased with a grotesque mask and engraved with scrollwork, rounded shaped gilt-copper lock with elaborate signature, engraved with foliage and cast and chased in relief on the tail with a male portrait bust in contemporary costume, the cock-retaining screw and steel each decorated with a further male portrait bust (cock, steel and steel-spring replaced), highly figured moulded walnut full stock (fore-end partly replaced) carved with foliage around the rear ramrod-pipe, cast and chased mounts of outstanding quality comprising scroll side-plate in the French taste elaborately pierced and chased with foliage and terminating in a demi-figure at each end, crowned escutcheon pierced with scrolling foliage framing a female portrait bust, spurred pommel with cusped borders, chased with a grotesque mask in relief on each side and with male portrait bust cap, trigger-guard with pierced foliate finials and a female portrait bust on the bow, and engraved trigger-plate, pierced and engraved trigger, baluster ramrod-pipes (one replaced), later brass-tipped ramrod, and much original gilding
15in.
BY GIOVANNI SOLBIATE IN BRESCIA, CIRCA 1730
With shortened gilt-copper barrel (repaired) signed in full on the sighting flat and cast and chased in relief at the breech with a portrait bust of a Roman emperor suspended from ribbons, gilt-copper tang chased with a grotesque mask and engraved with scrollwork, rounded shaped gilt-copper lock with elaborate signature, engraved with foliage and cast and chased in relief on the tail with a male portrait bust in contemporary costume, the cock-retaining screw and steel each decorated with a further male portrait bust (cock, steel and steel-spring replaced), highly figured moulded walnut full stock (fore-end partly replaced) carved with foliage around the rear ramrod-pipe, cast and chased mounts of outstanding quality comprising scroll side-plate in the French taste elaborately pierced and chased with foliage and terminating in a demi-figure at each end, crowned escutcheon pierced with scrolling foliage framing a female portrait bust, spurred pommel with cusped borders, chased with a grotesque mask in relief on each side and with male portrait bust cap, trigger-guard with pierced foliate finials and a female portrait bust on the bow, and engraved trigger-plate, pierced and engraved trigger, baluster ramrod-pipes (one replaced), later brass-tipped ramrod, and much original gilding
15in.