‡ A PAIR OF 22 BORE FRENCH SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK... Lot n° 279

‡ A PAIR OF 22 BORE FRENCH SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK PISTOLS BY C. GAGNIERE A ST ETIENNE, LYON CHARGE MARK FOR CIRCA 1775-80 with two-stage browned swamped barrels fitted with silver fore-sights on a gilt sunburst, decorated with gilt bands at the muzzles, trophies and foliage at the medians, inscribed 'Canon Tordu' within linear frames and with further gilt foliage at the breeches, border-engraved tangs, signed border-engraved rounded locks (one steel spring, top-jaw and screw replaced), figured walnut full stocks carved with linear moulding over the fore-end, about the mounts and with a spray of rococo foliage behind the tangs, full silver mounts comprising solid border-engraved side-plates, spurred pommels cast and chased with a Turk bust against a punched ground, vacant escutcheons enclosed by a rococo garland, engraved trigger-guards, and a pair of ramrod-pipes (later ramrods), 31.8cm (2) Provenance Property of a European Collector, sold in this room 9th December 2009, lot 271. Clément Gagniere is recorded as arquebusier in St Etienne circa 1757-88.