Details
A COMPOSITE SOUTH GERMAN (AUGSBURG) HOLSTER PISTOL (PUFFER)
circa 1590
With swamped two-stage barrel engraved and gilt with foliage at the muzzle, octagonal breech section struck with Augsburg mark together with a raddish mark (Neue Støckel 5742), and decorated over its greater surface with later panels of punched engraved running foliage on an entirely gilt ground, the tang en suite, flat lock (associated) also decorated en suite with the breech, fitted with safety-catch and domed iron wheel-cover (the pan-cover release missing), ebonised full stock profusely inlaid with staghorn panels engraved for the greater part with running patterns of strapwork and bordered by horn lines, all enclosing further horn plaques, including a grotesque and a mounted figure opposite the lock and an opposing pair of human masks about the barrel tang, compressed pommel inlaid with a matching scheme involving a series of lion masks alternating with rosettes and fitted with horn cap cut with an expanded flowerhead, gilt-iron trigger-guard, engraved horn fore-end cap and ramrod-pipe, the latter decorated with a demon mask, a further horn plaque at the ramrod aperture engraved with a warrior bust, and original horn-tipped wooden ramrod (small pieces of inlay replaced).
19in (48.3cm)
Provenance
S.J. Whawell Collection, London, 1926
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

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