Lot Essay
John Richards was at the 54 Strand address between 1782 and 1808. The pistols and case appear to pre-date the label by some ten years
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BY JOHN RICHARDS, LONDON, CIRCA 1775
Details
A rare cased pair of 28-bore flintlock turn-over pistols
by John Richards, London, circa 1775
With slightly belled barrels decorated with rococo ornament at the breech and engraved 'London', engraved tangs, signed and engraved bevelled back-action locks, figured walnut full stocks carved with a shell in relief at the barrel tang (fore-stocks cracked), engraved iron trigger-guards releasing the barrels, engraved brass side-plates and spurred pommels, the latter each with grotesque mask cap, cast and chased brass escutcheons, brass ramrod-pipes, and horn-tipped ramrods: in original lined and fitted oak case with bullet mould, turnscrew, and leather flask, the lid with brass handle of Chippendale type and with trade label at the No. 54 Strand address, London and Tower proof marks
15¼in. (38.7cm.)
by John Richards, London, circa 1775
With slightly belled barrels decorated with rococo ornament at the breech and engraved 'London', engraved tangs, signed and engraved bevelled back-action locks, figured walnut full stocks carved with a shell in relief at the barrel tang (fore-stocks cracked), engraved iron trigger-guards releasing the barrels, engraved brass side-plates and spurred pommels, the latter each with grotesque mask cap, cast and chased brass escutcheons, brass ramrod-pipes, and horn-tipped ramrods: in original lined and fitted oak case with bullet mould, turnscrew, and leather flask, the lid with brass handle of Chippendale type and with trade label at the No. 54 Strand address, London and Tower proof marks
15¼in. (38.7cm.)
Provenance
Clay P. Bedford, No. 497
Literature
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Early Firearms of Great Britain and Ireland from the Collection of Clay P. Bedford, 1971, No. 141, pp. 133-5