Sale 9436
London, King Street-South Kensington Offsite sale
|
18 July 2002
Price realised
GBP 6,572
Estimate
A FINE PAIR OF 20-BORE SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS By Joseph Griffin, London, London silver hallmarks for 1767 With slightly belled sighted barrels each retaining some original blued finish, signed in gold capital letters within a loop on the top flat of the breech, and engraved with a band of beadwork at the rear, gold-lined touch-holes, engraved tangs, signed flat border engraved bevelled locks each with safety-catch and stepped tail, and each engraved with flowers and foliage and signed on a foliate ribbon (one cock cracked), moulded figured walnut full stocks (one fore-end cracked) each carved with shells in relief at the barrel tang, full silver mounts cast and chased with rococo ornament in relief, pierced side-plates, escutcheons each engraved with owner's crest and initials 'RG', spurred pommels each with grotesque mask cap, engraved trigger-guards each with foliate finial, turned ramrod-pipes, and original horn-tipped ramrods, each with worm (some surface rust), London proof marks, silver maker's mark of John King 16in. (40.7cm.) (2)
Provenance
Contact Client Service
info@christies.com
New York +1 212 636 2000
London +44 (0)20 7839 9060
infoasia@christies.com
Asia +852 2760 1766
Special Notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Over 45 years, the London-based dealer has made his name as a purveyor of eclectic objects from an array of world cultures and historical periods
Thomas Girtin, who died aged just 27, was a friend of J.M.W. Turner — and regarded by many as more gifted. Specialist Harriet Drummond tells us why