This incredible cased set is a work of art from the case exterior to the pistols themselves and even to the accessories in the case and remains in extraordinarily fine condition overall. They have by tradition been attributed as made for the King of Hanover, either Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1771-1851) who ruled as king of Hanover from 1837 to 1851 after the death of King William IV of the United Kingdom and Hanover or possibly his son Georg V (1819-1878) who was king from 1851 until the annexation of Hanover by Prussia in 1866. It is also possible the pair was made for another Germanic nobleman. The castle on the case lid may be Schloss Dyck and the municipality of Juchen in Germany near Dusseldorf, then owned by the princes of Salm-Reifferscheid as the buildings are similar. Notably, a stalking rifle of Prince Friedrich Salm-Dyke's is listed from the Schloss Dyck arms collection (see "Die Waffensammlung des Fürsten Salm-Reifferscheidt zu Schloss Dyck" by Max von Ehrenthal). We have previously sold other Morgenroth marked firearms made for other nobles, such as Alexander Charles, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg. Little is known of Morgenroth whose first initial is sometimes found as "F" and appears to be Franz or Friedrich Morgenroth, but the various arms with their marking are very fine. Regardless of their original owner and maker, the pair was clearly built with extreme attention to their overall quality and was built as high end target pistols rather than dueling pistols given the finely adjustable sights. The finely patterned Damascus barrels have eight-groove rifling, dovetailed bead style blade front sights, extensive inlays in various metals (mainly multi-colored gold along with silver and copper) in a variety of scroll and floral patterns, "Morgenroth in Gernrode" in gold Gothic script on top, and no proofs or other markings. The locks are also signed "MORGENROTH" around the rear of the hammers which are sculpted in the form of a Dacian Draco or similar dragon. There are rotating hammer stall safeties ahead of the hammers. The lock plates, counter plates, and complex breech plugs combine to form an interesting serpentine monster design with a lion's head possibly representing Chnoubis/Yaldabaoth so that when the pistols are fired, the dragon smashed down onto the serpent. The locks and furniture are casehardened and have raised entwining scroll patterns in multi-colored metal like the barrel. The standing breeches have screw adjustable notch rear sights. The single set triggers are screw adjustable and enclosed by spurred trigger guards that include a serpent design on the bow. The designs on the counter plates also include a phoenix like bird and another smaller bird, and the pommel caps are numbered "1" (A) and "2" (B). The stocks have beautiful raised relief carved baroque scroll patterns on much of the surfaces including a mask design with inlaid eyes on the bottom of the forends along with lovely inlaid carved pearl accents, fine silver wire border, panels of fine checkering on the wrists, and contrasting flared pommels. The beautifully figured hardwood case has engraved inlays of white metal, copper, brass, and silver on the lid forming borders, scroll designs, and a central plaque with a castle/estate on a hill above a town. The red velvet lined interior holds loading and cleaning rods, a flat horn flask with German silver fittings, spare nipples, an oiler, an adjustable powder measure, an engraved conical bullet mold, and pair of screwdrivers with inlaid handles.

See "A." Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection