Pair of French Flintlock Pistols
Pair of French flintlock pistols signed “Thuraine a’ Paris” from the era of Louis the 14th for whom Thuraine was a royal maker. The pair are silver mounted with fine hand engraved decoration of highest quality. They’re also stocked in richly burled walnut and have raised gold decorated barrels in arabesque style letters.
The pair date 1660 to approximately 1680’s and show excellent form along unusual length never having been shortened. Royal French pistols of this large size and quality are definitely categorized as museum grade. The pair measure 21 inches overall with 14 ½ inch barrels of approximately 60 caliber smooth bore. The condition remains near fine with sharp edges and well defined engraving. The silver is remarkably crisp and engraving not rubbed out. Silver plaques in each wrist have small engraved vignettes showing portrait of royal man and lady who may be identifiable. Interestingly the curators of the arms department of the metropolitan museum determined the gold letters on the barrel to be a stylistic period interpretation of Arab writing as a decorative technique. The ramrods show matching horn tips to the forend caps and are possibly the originals.
Mr. Eric Vaule included this set in his inventory and felt they were comparable to other royal flintlock pairs from the Louis 14th era in major European museum collections.
Priced reasonably at $60,000.
Pair of French flintlock pistols signed “Thuraine a’ Paris” from the era of Louis the 14th for whom Thuraine was a royal maker. The pair are silver mounted with fine hand engraved decoration of highest quality. They’re also stocked in richly burled walnut and have raised gold decorated barrels in arabesque style letters.
The pair date 1660 to approximately 1680’s and show excellent form along unusual length never having been shortened. Royal French pistols of this large size and quality are definitely categorized as museum grade. The pair measure 21 inches overall with 14 ½ inch barrels of approximately 60 caliber smooth bore. The condition remains near fine with sharp edges and well defined engraving. The silver is remarkably crisp and engraving not rubbed out. Silver plaques in each wrist have small engraved vignettes showing portrait of royal man and lady who may be identifiable. Interestingly the curators of the arms department of the metropolitan museum determined the gold letters on the barrel to be a stylistic period interpretation of Arab writing as a decorative technique. The ramrods show matching horn tips to the forend caps and are possibly the originals.
Mr. Eric Vaule included this set in his inventory and felt they were comparable to other royal flintlock pairs from the Louis 14th era in major European museum collections.
Priced reasonably at $60,000.
Pair of French flintlock pistols signed “Thuraine a’ Paris” from the era of Louis the 14th for whom Thuraine was a royal maker. The pair are silver mounted with fine hand engraved decoration of highest quality. They’re also stocked in richly burled walnut and have raised gold decorated barrels in arabesque style letters.
The pair date 1660 to approximately 1680’s and show excellent form along unusual length never having been shortened. Royal French pistols of this large size and quality are definitely categorized as museum grade. The pair measure 21 inches overall with 14 ½ inch barrels of approximately 60 caliber smooth bore. The condition remains near fine with sharp edges and well defined engraving. The silver is remarkably crisp and engraving not rubbed out. Silver plaques in each wrist have small engraved vignettes showing portrait of royal man and lady who may be identifiable. Interestingly the curators of the arms department of the metropolitan museum determined the gold letters on the barrel to be a stylistic period interpretation of Arab writing as a decorative technique. The ramrods show matching horn tips to the forend caps and are possibly the originals.
Mr. Eric Vaule included this set in his inventory and felt they were comparable to other royal flintlock pairs from the Louis 14th era in major European museum collections.
Priced reasonably at $60,000.