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A VERY FINE FRENCH CASED PAIR OF FLINTLOCK DE LUXE PISTOLS BY BOUTET, DIRECTEUR ARTISTE, MANUFACTURE À VERSAILLES

CIRCA 1798-1801

Details

A VERY FINE FRENCH CASED PAIR OF FLINTLOCK DE LUXE PISTOLS BY BOUTET, DIRECTEUR ARTISTE, MANUFACTURE À VERSAILLES
Circa 1798-1801
Each with swamped octagonal barrel with minutely punched matted blue finish, signed in full, struck with inspector's mark 'AD', a Phrygien cap above, the mark of Daniel Bouyssavy and with the cursive inscription 'Armand' all beneath the breech, the upper surface decorated with punched engraved gold-damascened geometric bands in alternate matted and bright segments, augmented by small sprays of palm and laurel enclosing a series of four gold-lined stamps, a grenade and festoon damascened above, punched damascened lines at the muzzle, fore-sight and back-sight of blued iron, gold oval vent, and cut with ratchet-rifled bore, the breech tang finely engraved with small Neo-classical designs of foliage and each with differing bands of beadwork, the lock engraved about the bevelled edges and decorated en suite with the breech tang, one signed 'Boutet Directeur Artiste', the other inscribed 'Manufact à Versailles' and each fitted with roller, figured pale walnut full stock, the butt cut with shaped panels of fine chequering and with flattened octagonal pommel, full steel mounts finely engraved en suite with the breech tang and the lock, including trigger-guard decorated with a garland on the bow and with flaming grenade finial, set trigger, original ramrod, the breech tang, lock and mounts all of burnished steel, each pistol with little evidence of use, and retaining almost all of their original finish throughout: in original fitted case veneered in mahogany and expertly relined in blue baize (the lock replaced, the lid with small crack, the veneer with a single chip and small repair), retaining its original full complement of accessories all preserved in fine condition, including bullet mould of bronze and burnished steel, and brass-mounted transluscent horn flask with the maker's signature engraved in full.
15 7/8in (40.4cm) (2)

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

The stamps on the upper surface of the breech are: 'NB' (Neue Støckel 95), 'NB' monogrammed (Neue Støckel 97), 'LC' for the barrelsmith Nicolas Leclerc (Neue Støckel 3741) and 'BC' (unidentified).

Daniel Bouyssavy held the rank of Inspecteur à l'atelier de reparation de Versailles. His mark beneath the breeches of the present pistols is a second version used from the year of his appointment, An. VII (1797/8) until used in conjunction with a third version from year X (1801/2). Bouysavvy left the Manufactory at Versailles in February 1807.

See exhibition catalogue Musée Laminet, Versailles, La Manufacture d'armes de Versailles et Nicolas Boutet, November 1993-March 1994.

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