A Pair Of 15-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Holster Pistols

A Pair Of 15-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Holster Pistols By Barbar, London, Birmingham Silver Hallmarks For 1776, Maker's Mark RB, Possibly Of Richard Bickley With swamped two-stage barrels (some old wear and light pitting) each turned at the girdle and with silver spider fore-sight, octagonal breeches each signed in script along the top flat and engraved with a foliate rocaille at the rear, border engraved tangs grooved for sighting and decorated with foliage, border engraved flat bevelled locks each signed in capitals on a foliate rococo scroll and decorated with a flower-head on the stepped tail, engraved cocks and steels, the latter each with roller, figured full stocks (one with small repair on one side at the breech) each carved with a shell behind the barrel tang (both grips with slender break and chequered during the pistols' working life), cast and chased mounts comprising pierced Classical trophy of arms side-plates each centred on a female bust, escutcheons en suite, border engraved spurred pommels each decorated with a flower-head on both sides and with grotesque mask butt-cap, trigger-guards each with finial formed as a Classical female bust and engraved with a flower-head on the bow, turned ramrod-pipes, and wooden ramrods (tips missing), one with iron worm, Tower private proof marks (2) 25 cm. barrels Footnotes: Probably by James 2 Barbar who was apprenticed to his father James 1 in 1747 Provenance Sotheby's Summers Place, Antique Arms and Armour, 15 July 1997, lot 149 Sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms and Armour, 2 December 2004, lot 497 This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing