A fine pair of George III Royal flintlock pistols by Etherington and Crossley, circa 1810, the two stage 25cm barrels with engraved silvered and gilt decoration including crowned GR cipher and Britannia, royal arms at the breech, signed to the bevelled locks having gilt decoration and sliding safety catches, the walnut stocks inlaid with gold escutcheons engraved with the Royal crest, and... More

A fine pair of George III Royal flintlock pistols by Etherington and Crossley, circa 1810, the two stage 25cm barrels with engraved silvered and gilt decoration including crowned GR cipher and Britannia, royal arms at the breech, signed to the bevelled locks having gilt decoration and sliding safety catches, the walnut stocks inlaid with gold escutcheons engraved with the Royal crest, and silver inlaid with wire scrolls, trophies, crowned eagles and other motifs, with silver gilt lion mask butt caps, engraved gilt trigger guards with pineapple terminals, ramrods with engraved caps, 39cm long overall, in a fitted mahogany case with accessories including a red leather powder flask with gilt castle design. Though the makers are not well known, it may be that Etherington and Crossley formed a partnership specifically to produce these pistols. It is possible that Crossley was Richard Crossley the London goldsmith. The decoration is similar to that of a set of four pistols in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds (XII. 4746-9) made around 1804 by John Manton of London. Provenance: the property of a private collector. Formerly with Peter Finer, featured as no.55 in his 1997 catalogue