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A Very Rare Pair Of Liège All-Metal Working Miniature Pocket Pistols Of Niquet/Devillers Type
A Very Rare Pair Of Liège All-Metal Working Miniature Pocket Pistols Of Niquet/Devillers Type Mid-18th Century With turn-off rifled cannon barrels, octagonal breeches each ramped at the rear and finely engraved with a human head amid foliage on the top flats, bevelled tangs each engraved with a design of scales and secured by a screw into the top of the breech, actions each with safety-stud, engraved cocks (one an old replacement) and pans, the latter each incorporating the steel-spring beneath and retained by a screw, exposed triggers, and swelling border engraved ormolu butts each engraved with foliage on both sides and along the back with a bearded grotesque mask and overlapping foliage (some old scattered pitting and wear to gilding) (2) 4 cm. barrels, 11.3 cm. overall Footnotes: For a related pistol sold in these Rooms see Fine Antique Arms and Armour from the Henk L. Visser Collection, 28 November 2007, lot 326 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing
A Very Rare Pair Of Liège All-Metal Working Miniature Pocket Pistols Of Niquet/Devillers Type Mid-18th Century With turn-off rifled cannon barrels, octagonal breeches each ramped at the rear and finely engraved with a human head amid foliage on the top flats, bevelled tangs each engraved with a design of scales and secured by a screw into the top of the breech, actions each with safety-stud, engraved cocks (one an old replacement) and pans, the latter each incorporating the steel-spring beneath and retained by a screw, exposed triggers, and swelling border engraved ormolu butts each engraved with foliage on both sides and along the back with a bearded grotesque mask and overlapping foliage (some old scattered pitting and wear to gilding) (2) 4 cm. barrels, 11.3 cm. overall Footnotes: For a related pistol sold in these Rooms see Fine Antique Arms and Armour from the Henk L. Visser Collection, 28 November 2007, lot 326 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing