Lot 483
A FINE PAIR OF STEEL AND SILVER INLAID BELT PISTOLS BY ALEXANDER CAMPBELL OF DOUNE
18TH CENTURY
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts
Auction: 17 August 2016 from 12:00 BST
Description
steel stock of traditional form engraved with overall scrolls and foliage with inlaid silver highlights, the lock signed Alexr Campbell with engraved flint lock hammer and plain pan, the four stage barrel with reeded breech, engraved centre section with flared engraved octagonal muzzle, the rams horn scroll butt with simple oval silver cartouche and with silver flattened ball pricker matching trigger, with pierced and engraved steel belt hook and original ramrods (2)
Dimensions
barrel, 18.2cm long, overall length 13cm
Footnote
Note:
Alexander Campbell was one of a dynasty of three pistol makers based in Doune; the son of John Campbell and father to John Campbell II. His work is of a uniformly high standard and his expert skills are seen in the fine interlaced decoration and silver inlay which make his pistols instantly recognisable. It is considered that he and one other maker, John Christie of Stirling, were the highest exponents of these skills, and when the extra work and cost of the additional decorations are taken into consideration, these pistols could be seen as amongst the finest made within the period.
Alexander Campbell's pistols survive within various private and institutional collections but as few as four pairs (probably including this pair) are known to survive.