Thomas Del Mar Ltd
Lot 340
A CASED PAIR OF 20 BORE SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS BY JAMES (1) BARBAR, LONDON, 1758, MAKER'S MARK OF JEREMIAH ASHLEY with swamped barrels fitted with moulded silver fore-sights, the breeches finely chiselled and gilt with rococo ornament and signed within a border-engraved frame ahead of a shell, struck with London view and proof marks and the barrelsmith's mark, the letters IB beneath a mullet, on the left, gold-lined vents, finely engraved grooved tangs, stepped locks of circa 1830 signed 'Wheeler', fitted with rainproof pans, 'French' cocks, rollers and bolt safety-catches, decorated with bouquets and sunbursts, figured walnut full stocks profusley inlaid with silver wire scrolls over their entire surface (small losses), finely carved with delicate leafy tendrils and a shell about the tangs, full silver mounts cast and chased with rococo designs in low relief, comprising openwork sideplates involving large flowerheads, tendrils and a central shell, trigger-guards with shell terminals beneath a flowerhead canopy, each with a large rococo flowerhead on a punched ground on the bow, engraved spurred pommels with grotesque mask caps, escutcheons engraved wih the owner's crest, a pair of ramrod-pipes, and silver-tipped ramrods with iron worms, probably the original: in early fitted mahogany case lined in green baize (light wear, compartment lids replaced, one small chip), complete with some accessories including red leather-covered three-way flask, bullet mould and rammer, together with two modern detached flintlocks inscribed 'Barbar', the trigger-guards each engraved 368-20-4414 28.2 cm; 11 1/8 in barrels Provenance The John A. Williams Collection of English Pistols, sold Sotheby's, 22nd May 1979, lot 79 James Barbar, son of Lewis Barbar, presented his mark (cited above) on the death of the latter in 1740. He became Gentleman Armourer to George II in 1741, a post he held until 1762, and was Furbisher at Hampton Court until 1767. The crest is that of Morrice.
