FINE PAIR OF SCOTTISH ALL METAL FLINTLOCK HIGHLAND DRESS PISTOLS, WILLIAM MARSHALL AND SONS. EDINBURGH
MID-19TH CENTURY
Auction: Property from the Earls of Airlie | Wed 3rd Sept at 10am | Lots 1 to 44
Description
with four-stage silvered barrels etched with designs of foliage along the upper surfaces including the flats of the flared octagonal muzzles, the section behind fluted, the border engraved flat locks each engraved with foliage on the tail signed ‘Marshall & Sons, Edinburgh’, blued steel-springs each with roller, foliate engraved locks with agate flints, the all metal stocks with profusely engraved decoration throughout, with traditional foliate scrolls and interlace, the grips each with escutcheon on both sides, engraved with the crest and motto of Clan Kennedy ‘Avise la fin’ to one side and on the other with presentation inscription ‘Presented by Queen Victoria to Alexd. Robertson, Auchavan for Tossing the Calder at Balmoral 1859’, ram's horn butts, button triggers, slender pierced belt hooks etched en suite with the stocks, engraved below the hooks ‘Bequeathed by Alexr. Robertson to Lord Ogilvy 1893’, slender steel ramrods; together with a steel shot case, of oval form with hinged lids to both ends (3)
Dimensions
25cm wide, 13cm high
Provenance
Property from the Earls of Airlie
Footnote
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament