A Very Fine Pair of 20 Bore Silver Mounted Flintlock holster pistols for presentation to an eastern potentate by H. W Mortimer. Private proofmarks, silver hallmarks for 1803, marks for Joseph Bunney. With tapering barrels, 36.5cm, formed in three stages and fitted with silver spider foresights. Inlaid in silver with long lines over the forward portions. A sun in splendour on the medians. Elaborate trophies of arms and cornucopia, foliage and celestial motives over the breeches, the latter inlaid with silver lines and with gold lined vents. Iron tangs decorated with silver en suite, stepped locks signed on a scroll beneath the pans and inlaid with silver foliage.

Fitted with cocks decorated en suite, gold lined pans, rollers and bolt safety catches, blackened full stocks, profusely inlaid with engraved silver plaques, wire and minute pellets, including scrollwork, flowers, conventional foliage and cornucopia over the fore ends, trophies of music, stars, crescents, tendrils and further cornucopia over the butts. Full silver mounts, cast and chased in low relief, comprising trophies of arms sideplates, spurred pommels engraved with sunbursts and chased with trophies of arms on the caps. Trigger guards with a diamond shaped panel filled with a flower on the bows and with trophy of arms finials, a pair of ramrod pipes, and escutcheons en suite, with trigger guards, and engraved with the owners crest and silver tipped ramrods, one with its iron worm. Fitted in a contemporary Mortimer presentation case decorated with silver wire inlay and gold flowerheads in an eastern style. The case lined in green baize, partitioned with mahogany and silver lids to the corner compartments, with sundry accessories, and having a secret compartment, probably for sovereigns. This is an absolutely astounding quality pair of pistols of a type very rarely seen.

If you are thinking about selling antiques but dont know where to get the best price, start by getting in touch with Henry Krank.