BY THOMAS BANISTER, LONDON, CIRCA 1690

Details

A PAIR OF 28-BORE FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS
By Thomas Banister, London, circa 1690
With three-stage barrels, the breech sections octagonal then fluted polygonal and retaining faint traces of engraving, engraved tangs, signed rounded locks engraved with strawberry foliage terminating in a grotesque and a monster-head, later moulded walnut full stocks, iron trigger-guards and spurred pommels engraved en suite with the locks, the pommels each with silver grotesque mask cap, (later?) cast and chased pierced serpentine silver side-plates involving monster-heads and a mask, silver escutcheons each surmounted by a grotesque mask, and silver baluster ramrod-pipes (some wear and surface pitting, one escutcheon replaced, ramrods missing), London proof marks
19in. (48.2cm.) (2)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Thomas 1 Banister was apprenticed to Robert Silke and turned over to Robert Brooke in 1668. Free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1676, he was Contractor to Ordnance, 1680-1707, and to the Hudson's Bay Co., 1684-1701

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