An elegant Roman-style flintlock pistol dating:... Lot 18

An elegant Roman-style flintlock pistol dating: 18th century provenance: Central Italy, Smoothbore, two-stage, 14.6 mm cal. barrel, octagonal at the first part, with breech featuring a molded frame and with longitudinal outlines on the surface, then with rings at the girdle and round at the second part. Nozzle covered with a brass ring nut decorated with shaped and engraved leaves on the back . Lock decorated with masks, with a well-relieved face at the tang and other relieved faces on the screw heads, the rest engraved and carved with leaves. The rear part of the batteries with a relieved face. Marked 'CELALBA' inside the lock plate. Working mechanism but the cock tends to snap. Full, wooden stock with brass mounts. Back escutcheon engraved and pierced depicting a bird of prey. A small restoration on the wood near the butt-plate , the butt-plate itself with leaf engravings. Counterplate and hilt in front of the muzzle ring engraved and pierced with leaves. Antique, brass-tipped ramrod and iron cartridge extractor. Iron belt hook. For the 'CELALBA' marking, see 'Marchi e Firme di Archibugiari Italiani' by B. Barbiroli, page 343. It's a hamlet in the municipality of San Giustino near Perugia, part of the small and flourishing Republic of Cospaia. See also 'Repertorio Storico degli Archibugiari Italiani' by the same author, pages 583-584. length 46.5 cm.