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AN EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF FRENCH FIRST EMPIRE REGULATION SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS FOR AN OFFICIER SUPÉRIEUR DES DRAGONS DE LA GARDE IMPÉRIALE, BY BOUTET, MANUFTRE À VERSAILLES

NO. 384, CIRCA 1808-10

Details

AN EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF FRENCH FIRST EMPIRE REGULATION SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS FOR AN OFFICIER SUPÉRIEUR DES DRAGONS DE LA GARDE IMPÉRIALE, BY BOUTET, MANUFTRE À VERSAILLES
No. 384, circa 1808-10
With sighted barrels of bright steel with two gilt maker's stramps struck on each of three sides of the short octagonal breech section (Neue Støckel 97 and 'Boutet' in a compressed octagon), locks of An IX pattern inscribed 'Manufre a Versailles' in script below the brass pans and struck with the small mark of réviseur Nicaise (appointed 1808-1811), figured walnut full stocks, plain steel mounts of regulation pattern, the pommels each with silver cap cast in relief with the Imperial device 'N' crowned between branches of oak and laurel on a punched 'fish-roe' ground, retaining their original iron ramrods, and in fine condition throughout.
14in (35.5cm) (2)

Provenance

William Goodwin Renwick, Sotheby & Co.

Literature

Gérard Dintroz, Des pistolets de Boutet exceptionnels, G.d.A., No.222, May 1992.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

A pair of the same pattern was carried by Général Arrighi de Casanova, commander of the Dragons de la Garde Impériale and cousin to the Emperor.

According to the late authority Charles Marchal, in 1988 only eight pistols of this type were known to exist.

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