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269<br />
A PAIR OF SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER<br />
PISTOLS BY LEWIS (1) BARBAR, LONDON, CIRCA 1700<br />
with swamped barrels formed in three stages, moulded<br />
fore-sights engraved with foliage around the bases,<br />
engraved with a band of beadwork at the breeches,<br />
stamped with the barrelsmith’s mark, London view and<br />
proof marks on one side, stamped with Irish census<br />
numbers KD-2196 and KD-2197, and signed ‘Barbar<br />
Londini’, barrel tangs engraved with wrigglework and<br />
foliage, signed locks engraved with wrigglework around the<br />
borders, the cocks and steel engraved en suite (one<br />
mainspring missing, the other lock defective), figured<br />
walnut full stocks (the fore-ends each cracked and chipped,<br />
one stock reinforced with a steel apron), carved with raised<br />
mouldings about the barrel tangs, locks and over the foreends,<br />
full silver mounts comprising scrolling foliate sideplates<br />
cast and chased in low relief and enriched with silver<br />
269<br />
wire scrolls and pellets, spurred pommels fitted with<br />
grotesque mask caps, moulded trigger-guards with<br />
acanthus finials, vacant foliate escutcheons, and a pair of<br />
moulded ramrod-pipes, and one pistol retaining its original<br />
horn-tipped wooden ramrod with steel worm (the other<br />
replaced)<br />
46cm; 18B in<br />
(2)<br />
Inv. nos. F014 & F015.<br />
Louis Barbar, a French protestant, was born at Essendon in<br />
Poitou and came to England circa 1688 where he was<br />
naturalised in 1700. He was made free of the Gunmaker’s<br />
Company in 1704, was appointed Gentleman <strong>Armour</strong>er to<br />
King George I in 1717 and King George II in 1727. See W.<br />
Keith Neal and D. H. L. Back 1984, pp. 288-302.<br />
£3000-3500<br />
123
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