FRANCE, second half of the 18th century - Lot 154

FRANCE, second half of the 18th century Pair of bishop's (?) pommel pistols. Flintlock locks with chamfered bodies and swan-necked hammer engraved with a chimera head. Round barrels with thunderbolts, acanthus leaves and floral bands towards the muzzle. Brass thunderbolts. Smooth. Cal. 15 mm. Pan-shaped basins. Walnut shafts and stocks. Cut brass fittings, including pommels with attel decorated with figures and masks, leaves and cartouches, and openwork counterplates decorated with griffins on terraces, holding a bishop's coat of arms, framed by a crozier and miter; and medallion thumb pieces with the profile of a helmeted officer, under a crown, and decorated with garlands. With a wooden ramrod with iron insert. Barrel length: 23.5 cm - Overall length: 41 cm. One ramrod missing. Wear, scratches, shocks and a few chips; two stocks and two barrels fractured, some parts restored, one stock missing; oxidized metal parts; one barrel appears to have been restored towards the muzzle. Shocks, cracks, fractured stock, one rod holder torn off. Oxidation.