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LOT 1315
Extravagant Relief Chiseled Pair of Flintlock Pistols by Devillers -A) Devillers Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 65 cal., 11 3/4 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. These beautiful 18th century pistols are likely Liegeois based on the “DEVILLERS” signature on the edge of the locks below the frizzen springs. This is probably Henri or Guillame Devillers of Liege, active c.1734-1762 and c.1750-1783 respectively. They feature an elaborate combination of engraving, relief chiseling, and sculpted metal work and are mounted on finely figured stock with raised molding, flats, and carving. The barrels have blade front sights on raised sighting flats, scroll engraving, raised classical figures standing on grotesque masks on the breech sections followed by raised flats. The locks have relief sculpted masks at the tails, wavy line borders, scroll engraving, raised scroll patterns incorporating winged beasts between the cocks and the non-
bridled pans, bridled tumblers, and wide serrations on the frizzen faces. The furniture is also decorated in a combination of raised relief and engraved floral patterns along with additional masks of a variety of designs. The pierced side plates are particularly ornate. The wrist escutcheons have crowns/coronets
over a depiction of a classic Roman soldier.
CONDITION: Very good with crisp designs throughout, mostly gray and brown patina some mild pitting mainly at the vent, and general mild wear. The
highly figured stock is fine and has some minor scratches and dings and minor loss/wear at the edges. Mechanically fine. B) Devillers Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 65 cal., 11 3/4 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very good with crisp designs throughout, mostly gray and brown patina, some mild pitting primarily at the vent, and overall some mild wear. The stock is fine and has beautiful figure, the usual minor scratches and dings, some faint repaired cracks by the upper ramrod pipe pin, and
minor edge wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000