Lot 315
An exceptional pair of early 19th century silver mounted and inlaid flintlock holster pistols Signed HW. MORTIMER & Co
Auction: 8 April 2009 at 11:30 BST
Description
the flat engraved locks signed within a ribbon, and with safety slides, the flat sided cocks with inlaid silver foliate decoration, the top jaws decorated with silver sun-rays, gold-lined pans and touch holes, roller frizzen springs, three stage barrels with Birmingham proof marks, three silver crescents inlaid into the tangs, the breeches with double lines of silver rouletting, a silver oval engraved London surrounded by silver foliate decoration, a large silver crescent with a pair of lances rising from the centre with attached banners with a turban with three feathers and swords forming a central trophy with an inlaid silver sunburst and silver lines running the length of the barrel to the silver spider foresight, the silver spurred pommels decorated with sunburst decoration, the silver trigger guards bearing Birmingham hall marks for 1803 with makers mark I:B with four-sided acanthus leaves forming the central decoration of the guard and with a trophy of arms finial, the full walnut stock entirely inlaid with silver wire decoration including cornucopiae, star bursts, arrows piercing hearts, a martial escutcheon bearing an engraved family crest topped by a helmet, silver ramrod pipes, two ramrods (one with missing silver tip) (2)
Dimensions
50.8cm long
Footnote
Note:
Harvey Walklate Mortimer 1753-1819 was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme. He had established himself as a gunmaker in London by 1775 having been trained by his uncle William Perry in Birmingham in 1766. His first premises were in 6 King Street off Drury Lane London The following year he moved to Great Queen Street in Lincoln's Inn Fields and finally his premises were at 89 Fleet Street London. Mortimer was free of the Farrier's Company in 1782. He became gunmaker to the King and recieved his Royal appointment to King George III in 1783. He remained at Fleet Street untill his retirement through ill health in 1811. His son H.W. Mortimer had the same name Harvey Walklake, in memory of the elder Mortimer's Great-uncle. The younger Mortimer was born in 1776 and was apprenticed at the age of 15 to his father in 1791 and served in the Inns of the Court Regiment of Volunteers from 1803. He was Gunmaker to King George III in 1805 and he retired in 1816.
Both Mortimers were renowned makers of decorated firearms for the Turkish and Middle Eastern markets, which this pair was very possibly intended for. They also produced some of the finest duelling and target pistols. Their duelling pistols have very distinctive writhen carved butts, which add a very elegant and distinctive flourish to the stocks.
A fine silver inlaid flintlock fowling piece for the Turkish market and a case of duelling pistols by this maker from the Keith Neal Collection is on display in the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers proof house in London.