2020 September Premier, Volume I

The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection
If you look closely at the lizards on the pommels, the arrow shaped heads
have large scales, the bodies have finer scales, and they have long tails
with bands, all characteristics matching these two related species. The
artist clearly took their time to get the details correct. They have pieces
of the surrounding foliage stems in their jaws. The species of the coiled,
threatening snakes on the base of the hammers is less certain, but another
species native to France seems likely, possibly an adder. The bi-pedal
beasts on the nose of the locks present the only designs that differ
between the two pistols. The first pistol has a guivre/wyvern, a winged
beast, and has its tail coiled vertically. The second pistol’s beast is wingless
and has its tailed curled under, possibly a lindworm or sea serpent. With
the hammers down, the snakes appear to be menacing the beasts. The
trigger guards have a mammalian creature with long neck, short legs,
and a long coiled tail, perhaps an artistic representation of a polecat. The
barrels have bead front sights, “BRUN A PARIS” among the designs on the
top flats, “BRUN/A PARIS” on the bottom of the barrels and on the breech
hooks, and sunken star over “A B” mark on the bottom of the breech plugs.
The locks have no external markings. The ebony stocks have grape leaf
and vine carving along their whole lengths and fluting in the wrists. The
case exterior has scroll floral engraved silver trim on the lid, raised relief
carved scroll pattern carving with textured backgrounds, and a gryphon
surrounding a gold bordered and engraved escutcheon. The interior has
“Brun/a paris” in golden cord inside the lid, scroll engraved fittings (some
silver), closely fit compartment containing the pistols and the coordinating
accessories which have extensive engraving and carving in patterns that
match the pistols. For example, the mallet and screwdriver/nipple wrench
handle are ebony and carved with grape leaf patterns has plates on the
ends with grape leaf engraving backed by gold and grape leaf carving
on the sides. The plates on the head of the mallet have floral engraving
backed by gold, and the screwdriver/nipple wrench shaft and tip, powder
flask, bullet mold, measure, oiler, silver plated loading and cleaning rods,
and compartment pull have coordinating floral engraving. The flask also
features silver plating and designs of a lizard on one side and a snake with
barbed tongue and tail on the other.
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