Antiques M.S. Rau | Italian Dueling Pistols

Very Rarely Do Pristine 17Th-Century Italian Snaphaunce Holder Pistols Come To Market, And It Is All The Rarer To Find A Pair That Features Such Perfectly Preserved Silvered Mounts. Certainly Created For A Gentleman Of Prestige, The Luxurious And Ornate Pistols Were Works Of Art In Their Own Right. The Barrels Of Pristine Rosewood Are Further Embellished By A Lion’S Head At The Rear End Of The Foreshock, Fishtail Buttes And Chiseled Fluting.

Dueling, A Bygone Tradition, Was A Privilege Afforded To The Upper Class. These Pistols, Remarkable In Their Artistry And Construction, Reflect This Social Standing. Meant As A Display Of Prestige, These Pistols Were Crafted To Be Seen And Were Certainly Not Concealed In A Holster. This Pair, Crafted Circa 1660-1675, Is An Extraordinarily Rare Treasure From The Golden Age Of Italian Gunmanship.

Throughout The 17Th Century, Italian Gunmakers Were World-Renowned For Their Skill And Artistry, And Pistols Like This Were Crafted With The Most Precious Metals, Materials, And Intricacy. Few Of These Works Of Art Are Found Today Because They Were Often Lost Through The Great Expanse Of Time, Deconstructed To Access Valuable Materials, Or Destroyed. Finding A Pristine Pair Of Pistols Like This Is Undoubtedly Rare And Exceptional.

Circa 1660-75

Case: 3 7/8″ High X 22 1/4″ Wide X 12 1/2″ Deep