Lot Essay
The inscription reads in translation : 'Made by the inspector Eguia for the use of Arizaga in Placentia'. Placentia is a town in the Basque province of Guipuzcoa
Details
A PAIR OF 13-BORE SPANISH PERCUSSION PISTOLS
CIRCA 1835
With twist sighted barrels (minor pitting) inlaid at the breech with a band of gold-inlaid star-shaped designs within two gold lines and inscribed in gold 'Par el Esaminador Eguia Pa.el. Uso de Arizaga en Placentia', patent breeches, grooved engraved case-hardened tangs, case-hardened locks each engraved with a cornucopia on the tail and inscribed in gold 'en Placentia', hammers pierced and chiselled as a stylised lion on a serpent, walnut full stocks, chequered butts, case-hardened iron mounts, side-plates each chiselled with a serpent on a gilt ground, engraved pommels each with lanyard ring and long back-strap extending to the barrel tang and engraved with guilloche ornament, trigger-guards engraved respectively with a man and woman in contemporary costume, trigger-plates with human-head finial, single engraved faceted ramrod-pipes, and original iron- and brass-mounted ramrods
14in. (2)
CIRCA 1835
With twist sighted barrels (minor pitting) inlaid at the breech with a band of gold-inlaid star-shaped designs within two gold lines and inscribed in gold 'Par el Esaminador Eguia Pa.el. Uso de Arizaga en Placentia', patent breeches, grooved engraved case-hardened tangs, case-hardened locks each engraved with a cornucopia on the tail and inscribed in gold 'en Placentia', hammers pierced and chiselled as a stylised lion on a serpent, walnut full stocks, chequered butts, case-hardened iron mounts, side-plates each chiselled with a serpent on a gilt ground, engraved pommels each with lanyard ring and long back-strap extending to the barrel tang and engraved with guilloche ornament, trigger-guards engraved respectively with a man and woman in contemporary costume, trigger-plates with human-head finial, single engraved faceted ramrod-pipes, and original iron- and brass-mounted ramrods
14in. (2)
Literature
W. Keith Neal, Spanish Guns and Pistols, pp. 44-45, plates 94 and 96