This exceptional 17th century pistol comes from Brescia in Northern Italy and is signed by Giovan Battista Francino. His surviving work is incredible and clearly worthy of world-class private or institutional collections. The Brescian region is well-known for their incredible pierced and sculpted metalwork and their high quality barrels which are light but strong and are often more intricately sculpted than pistols from elsewhere in Europe. The present pistol has similarities in the metalwork and stock treatment to other pairs by this respected maker, including the pair of flintlock pistols by Giovan Battista Francino dated to c. 1686 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number: 42.50.9, .10) and the less decorated wheellock pistol in the Royal Armories' "Study Collection" by Francino that they date to 1635 (Object Number: XII.732). Note that the Royal Armouries' pistol has very similar designs around the wheel and on the dog. The two-stage barrel has girdles at the muzzle, transition point, and breech and is signed "GIO: BATT./FRANCINO" on top of the breech section between the ribs. The inside of the lock plate is marked with a "PP" maker's mark with a crown and three fluers-de-lis, and some of the lock internals are also scroll engraved. The same maker's mark is shown on page 1002 of "Deer Neue Stockel" by Heer and noted as on a wheellock pistol possibly from Brescia c. 1665. The exterior of the lock plate has very fine scroll engraving with finely textured backgrounds, and the smaller components are also engraving and feature primarily acanthus scroll motifs. The furniture and stock accents are finely engraved with intertwining scrolls inhabited by serpentine beasts and masks. Even the trigger has a pierced bestial design. The stock also features primarily floral carving. The ornamentation throughout is remarkable.

Exceptionally fine. The lock and barrel are mostly bright and have spots of light patination. The furniture and pierced accent panels display smooth-gray brown patina and crisp designs. The stock is fine and has crisp carving, filled repairs (front barrel pin, above the lock, and left side of the wrist), minor scratches and marks, and a few thin cracks that are to be expected given the pistol's age and the slenderness of the stock . Overall, there is generally only minor age associated wear. The lock is untested but looks to be in working order. This is an extraordinary Brescian wheellock pistol that is certainly worthy of an fine collection of antique arms or art. Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection.