The Dutch produced full ivory stocked pistols, especially in the Maastricht region in starting the mid-17th century at the height of their trading empire. From their beginning these pistols were meant primarily as display pieces. An estimated 100 pairs or single original ivory stocked flintlock pistols are believed to survive in public and private collections. The largest collection of ivory stocked Dutch pistols was amassed by gentleman collector Henk Visser and was later donated to number of Dutch museums which has only increased their scarcity of the collector market. Most surviving examples do not have separate "helmet" pommel caps, but a pair by Leonardus Graeff survive in the MET collection with brass helmets complete with animal head designs. This example is a later copy from the Victorian Era. Arms collecting has been around for centuries, but it became much more popular with the expansion of the upper middle class and non-aristocratic elite during the late 19th century "Gilded Age." Vestiges of the past and art became more popular in people's homes, and many of the nicest homes have dedicated gun rooms and cabinets of curiosities to contain items meant to reflect the knowledge, wealth, and cultured nature of the home's family. However, most of the finest European firearms remained stowed away in royal or national collections, so talented artisans created high quality pieces to fill gaps. Many of these arms are fully functional and utilized parts from the original period or parts copied directly from originals. They are highly collectible both as relics of their own period and as reflections of the even more distant past. The barrel has a brass blade front sight and a brass adorned engraved breech section. The remaining furnishings, aside from the frizzen, springs, screws, cock, and a band on the stock, are also engraved brass. The stock is a solid piece of antique ivory and has the butt carved in the shape of a Roman soldier. The rear is filed so that the brass buttcap, shaped as a helmet with a wolf head on the front, can fit over top. The ramrod matches the stock. Roman soldiers, especially standard bearers, wore wolf pelts over their helmets and backs to instill courage and frighten their enemies. Greco-Roman artifacts and motifs were very popular given many countries traces the roots of the democratic systems to the senates of the independent ancient Greek states and the Roman Republic.

Fine. The iron has gray and brown patina and a few traces of blue finish. The brass has attractive aged patina. There are some file marks near the muzzle and moderate marks and scratches. The antique stock is also fine and has age cracks throughout and some chipping under the helmet at the replacement screw on the left side. The lock has no tension on the frizzen, a misaligned vent, and signs of alteration near the pan. The cock functions from full-cock but does not have a functional half-cock notch. Very few ivory stocked pistols survive from any era, and those that do are largely contained in institutional collections rather than private hands just as they were over a hundred years ago. This is a great opportunity to acquire one to enhance your collection!