CIRCA 1725-29

Details

A RARE PAIR OF GERMAN FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS BY SCHMEISER A EISENACH
Circa 1725-29
With blued sighted barrels formed in three stages with turned girdles, bevelled locks stepped at the rear and each signed on a scroll below the pan (one cock cracked), figured walnut full stocks carved with acanthus mouldings at the barrel tangs, trigger-guards and ramrod-pipes, full iron mounts comprising border-engraved spurred pommels each with demon mask cap finely chiselled in relief, flat side-plates pierced and engraved with scrolls involving a monster's head and carrying an oval engraved with the owner's coat-of-arms, those of Saxony, a ducal 'hat' above, bevelled trigger-guards with chiselled acanthus finial, and a pair of faceted ramrod-pipes, retaining their original iron-capped wooden ramrods, and the barrels with some original finish (the locks and mounts cleaned bright).
20 7/8in (53cm) (2)

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

Presumably made for Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Sachsen-Eisenach (1698-1729).

Cf. a single pistol by Schmeiser, dated 1729, and a pair by the same, dated 1728, sold in these rooms 8 November 1995, lot 173, and 29 March 1995, lot 248, respectively.

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