A PAIR OF 28 BORE FRENCH FLINTLOCK PISTOLS BY JOSEPH LAMOTTE, CIRCA 1760 with swamped barrels ret

A PAIR OF 28 BORE FRENCH FLINTLOCK PISTOLS BY JOSEPH LAMOTTE, CIRCA 1760 with swamped barrels retaining traces of decoration on the flats over the breeches, fitted with silver fore-sights, border and foliate-engraved tangs, signed engraved bevelled locks decorated with border ornament, flowers and reclining hounds on the tails (one cock replaced, engraving refreshed), figured walnut full stocks carved with scrolling foliage in low relief about the rear ramrod-pipes and barrel tangs (areas of wear, the fore-ends cracked), inlaid with silver wire scrollwork on the spine of the butts (small losses), engraved steel mounts comprising solid side-plates decorated with a boar pursued by a pair of hounds, spurred pommels decorated with acanthus, and trigger-guards decorated with rococo ornament on the bows, silver escutcheons engraved with laurel fronds framing the owner`s coat-of arms beneath a coronet for a Count or Earl permitted, and with steel-tipped wooden ramrod (one replaced, the steel parts cleaned) 36cm; 14 1/8in (2) Joseph Lamotte (circa1716-84) worked in St Etienne and was one of the official suppliers of firearms to the cavalry during the third quarter of the 18th Century.