Lot Essay
Giovanni Maria Francino, son of Gioseffo Francino, was born circa 1660, and worked at Gardone Val Trompia as a barrelmaker between circa 1680 and 1725
Details
A 38-BORE BRESCIAN FLINTLOCK PISTOL
CIRCA 1700
With two-stage barrel stamped 'Gio. Maria. Francino.' on the octagonal breech, rounded lock engraved with a recumbent female figure and partly chiselled with foliage in relief, the cock-retaining bolt chiselled with a grotesque mask, figured walnut full stock (perhaps a working replacement), steel mounts chiselled in relief in the Brescian manner enriched with a grotesque mask on the spurred pommel and trigger-guard, pierced side-plate (originally with belt hook), escutcheon, trigger, and trigger-guard finial, turned ramrod-pipes, and original ramrod with chiselled steel tip
14¾in. (37.5cm.)
CIRCA 1700
With two-stage barrel stamped 'Gio. Maria. Francino.' on the octagonal breech, rounded lock engraved with a recumbent female figure and partly chiselled with foliage in relief, the cock-retaining bolt chiselled with a grotesque mask, figured walnut full stock (perhaps a working replacement), steel mounts chiselled in relief in the Brescian manner enriched with a grotesque mask on the spurred pommel and trigger-guard, pierced side-plate (originally with belt hook), escutcheon, trigger, and trigger-guard finial, turned ramrod-pipes, and original ramrod with chiselled steel tip
14¾in. (37.5cm.)
Literature
Agostino Gaibi, Armi Da Fuoco Italiane, plate 496