A fine and rare pair of 38-bore French flintlock rifled holster pistols

BY THURAINE À PARIS, CIRCA 1670

Details

A fine and rare pair of 38-bore French flintlock rifled holster pistols
by Thuraine à Paris, circa 1670
With four-stage barrels cut with ten grooves, silver fore-sights, finely engraved tangs, signed rounded locks finely engraved with differing designs of scrollwork, birds, and classical figures, and with chiselled details on the cocks and steels, carved Grenoble walnut full stocks, finely engraved iron mounts decorated with differing designs en suite with the locks, spurred pommels each with a silver grotesque mask cap on a finely pierced and engraved oval panel, cast and chased silver side-plates, turned iron ramrod-pipes (each forward pipe replaced), and later ramrods, the escutcheons of silver cast and chased with foliage, with a crown above and two affronted dolphin-heads beneath (some wear overall, one cock, one steel, and part of each fore-stock replaced)
20in. (50.8cm.) (2)

Literature

W. Taylor, 'Are these Prince Eugene's Pistols (?)', Arms Cavalcade, pp. 10-13, and cover illustrations, were it is suggested that these pistols were made for Prince Eugene of Savoy

Lot Essay

Thuraine, gunmaker to Louis XIV, together with Le Hollandois (also appointed Arquebusier Ordinaire du Roi in about 1656) is famous for his pattern books as well as his execution of Royal commissions
A similar pair of pistols was offered in these Rooms on 18 December 1974, lot 209

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