Property from an Important Private Collection A GERMAN (SAXON) SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PIST

Property from an Important Private Collection A GERMAN (SAXON) SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOL, BY F.CARLSON A DRESDEN, CIRCA 1710-19 with swamped barrel formed with a long slender flat signed ~F. Carlson a Dresden~ and fitted with silver fore-sight on a bed of engraved scrolls, the breech chiselled against a finely gilt matted ground with a trophy-of-arms incorporating a foliate mask beneath a canopy ahead of a band of beadwork, scroll-and border-engraved breech tang, signed border-engraved bevelled lock chiselled and gilt with a trophy-of-arms en suite on the tail, engraved with the reclining figure of Diana and signed beneath the faceted pan, fitted with chiselled and gilt cock and steel, the former involving an issuant serpent, top-jaw with a further foliate mask and the latter with foliage en suite, figured walnut full stock carved with sprays of foliage about the rear ramrod-pipe and the breech tang (expertly repaired), full silver mounts cast and chased in low relief against a finely gilt matted ground, comprising openwork sideplate involving scrolling foliage, an issuant serpent and a female portrait profile, trigger-guard with a grotesque mask on the bow and foliate terminal, butt-cap with a large green man mask and a bold design of symmetrical scrolls and foliage, and escutcheon decorated with a pair of bound prisoners carrying a portrait medallion on a trophy-of-arms beneath a count~s coronet, and a pair of faceted ramrod-pipes (later ramrod) 33.5 cm; 13 1/4 in barrel Friedrich Carlsohn was born in Liebau, Kurland in present day Latvia. In 1700 he made a masterpiece with Andreas Erttel who is credited with the introduction of the ~French manner~ to the Saxon Court. In 1701 he became a master of the Dresden Guild and a burgher in 1705. In 1716 he was reprimanded for employing six lockmakers and four gunmakers at the same time. In 1719 he died in his house on the Schiessgraben. The former Saxon Electoral Armoury, now incorporated within the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden, includes a wheel-lock rifle, two flintlock rifles, and three pairs of pistols by this maker. The design of the mounts is taken from earlier French pattern books including those of Simonin and Guérard. Johann Christoph Weigel published a facsimile of the latter ~presented under the skillful guidance~ (vorgestellet unter anleitung der geschickteseten) of the Parisian Gunmakers in Nuremburg, some time before 1725. See Hayward 1963, pp. 110-111, Schaal 1975, p. 90 and Grancsay 1970, p. 14 and p. 86.