Пара Пистолетов. ударный кремневый. Европа. 18 век. фото 13-01

Fabulous matching pair of silver-mounted flintlock pistols made by Antoine Berthaut of Paris (1681-1717), presumably for Adrian Maurice, 3rd Duke de Noailles, and bearing the family arms on the wrist of each pistol. Each pistol with 9 inch .56 caliber tapered round barrel decorated with gold banding at muzzle, scrolls framing the silver fore-sights, strapwork and banding at the breeches and signed “Berthaut A Paris”. Tangs engraved with lion masks. Locks engraved with borders, the stepped tails with cupids and hounds. Lockplates signed “Bertaut/A Paris” and marked under the cocks “F. Tivet/Lecadet” (St. Etienne 1698-1754). Hallmarked silver furniture: triggerguards with acanthus finials; pierced, scrolling sideplate incorporating monster heads; spurred buttcaps molded with masks and scrollwork with central panel of a female warrior; wrist escutcheons surmounted by ducal crowns and bearing the coat-of-arms of Noailles. Full walnut stocks relief-carved with floral scrolls and inlaid with silver wire scrollwork. Wood ramrods with steel caps. Overall length of each pistol 15 5/8", very good plus condition with very minor silver wire loss and some repairs to one lock (nearly impossible to spot). While most pistols of this period had longer barrels, there is no evidence that these were ever cut down and the decoration on both barrel and stock indicates they were originally made this length.

Biography of Adrian Maurice, 3rd Duc de Noailles (1678-1766):

Son of Anne-Jules, 2nd duc de Noailles, he inherited the title duc de Noailles on his father's death in 1708. He fought in the War of the Spanish Succession (1710––1713) and was president of the Finance Council from 1715 to 1718. He distinguished himself in the War of the Polish Succession (1733––1738) and was made a marshal of France in 1734, becoming dean of the marshals in 1748. He served in the War of the Austrian Succession and was appointed to command the French forces in March 1743. He was defeated at the Battle of Dettingen in June 1743, but successfully drove the Austrians out of Alsace-Lorraine the following year, although he missed an opportunity to seriously damage the Austrian army as it was crossing the Rhine. He was Foreign Minister from April to November 1744, and regarded Great Britain as a greater enemy of France than Austria. He later acted in a diplomatic capacity and had substantial influence over the course of foreign policy. In 1698, as comte d'Ayen, he married Franccoise Charlotte Amable d'Aubigny, niece and beneficiary of the marquise de Maintenon, and by her had six children, 4 daughters and 2 sons. His two sons Louis, 4th duc de Noailles, and Philippe, duc de Mouchy, also went on to become marshals of France. The duc de Noailles was made a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1702, a Grandee of Spain in 1711, and a Knight of the Order of Saint-Esprit in 1724. Contact seller for more photos.