A Balkan 22-Bore Flintlock Holster Pistol (Ledenica), 19th Century, Probably Ioannina For The Greek Market

With three-stage Italian export barrel, octagonal breech stamped with two indistinct maker's marks between twelve small trefoil marks on the top flats, tang covered with a white-metal plate nielloed with a moustachioed human mask and a repeated design of foliage, rounded Italian export lock signed 'Rossi' and chiselled with foliage on the tail, the head of the cock retaining screw chiselled as a grotesque mask, heavy white-metal full stock with curved butt cast and chased overall in low relief with nielloed flower-heads and foliage against finely punched grounds, all within nielloed ribbons and involving a further mask on the fore-stock, and a double-headed eagle behind the barrel tang, spirally-fluted bulbous pommel, trigger-guard and muzzle-sleeve en suite with the stock, and false ramrod (barrel and lock with light pitting)
23 cm. barrel

For related pistols see Robert Elgood, The Arms Of Greece..., 2009, p. 97, fig. 100; and another sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms & Armour..., 25 November 2015, lot 58