A Pair Of 20-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Turn-Off Pistols By Jas....
A Pair Of 20-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Turn-Off Pistols
By Jas. Low, London, Circa 1760, Indistinct London Silver Hallmark, Maker's Mark Of John Allen
With long two-stage cannon barrels, breeches each engraved 'London' and with a band of foliage behind, grooved border engraved tangs each decorated with foliage, border engraved locks each signed beneath the steel-spring and decorated with foliage on the tail, cocks en suite (one retaining screw and both top jaw screws replaced), moulded figured rounded butts (minor split at the tail of one lock) each carved in relief with a shell behind the barrel tang, border engraved fore-end plates extending back to form the trigger-plate and each decorated with foliage, trigger-guards each with finial en suite and decorated with a trophy on the bow, cast and chased mounts comprising pierced trophy of arms side-plates involving a rococo cartouche, foliate escutcheons each surmounted by a scallop shell and engraved with owner's crest and motto, and grotesque mask butt-caps (some light wear and minor rust patination), London proof marks and Foreigner's mark (2)
16.8 cm. barrels
Provenance
Sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms & Armour..., 30 November 2016, lot 333
The Penrose Collection
James Low was apprenticed to John Brooke in 1717 and free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1724. He is recorded as 'Gunsmith, Cannon Row, Westminster' in 1749, and the last reference to him is in 1753
The crest and motto is that of Murray or Carnegie
For a full account of John Allen (1698-1769) see Leslie Southwick, 'The Makers' Marks', 'I.K', 'JA' and 'M.B', Struck On London 18th Century Georgian Silver Gun Furniture...', J.A.A.S., Vol. XXIV, No. 2 (September 2022), pp. 136-185
Bid on this lot
A Pair Of 20-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Turn-Off Pistols
By Jas. Low, London, Circa 1760, Indistinct London Silver Hallmark, Maker's Mark Of John Allen
With long two-stage cannon barrels, breeches each engraved 'London' and with a band of foliage behind, grooved border engraved tangs each decorated with foliage, border engraved locks each signed beneath the steel-spring and decorated with foliage on the tail, cocks en suite (one retaining screw and both top jaw screws replaced), moulded figured rounded butts (minor split at the tail of one lock) each carved in relief with a shell behind the barrel tang, border engraved fore-end plates extending back to form the trigger-plate and each decorated with foliage, trigger-guards each with finial en suite and decorated with a trophy on the bow, cast and chased mounts comprising pierced trophy of arms side-plates involving a rococo cartouche, foliate escutcheons each surmounted by a scallop shell and engraved with owner's crest and motto, and grotesque mask butt-caps (some light wear and minor rust patination), London proof marks and Foreigner's mark (2)
16.8 cm. barrels
Provenance
Sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms & Armour..., 30 November 2016, lot 333
The Penrose Collection
James Low was apprenticed to John Brooke in 1717 and free of the Gunmakers' Company in 1724. He is recorded as 'Gunsmith, Cannon Row, Westminster' in 1749, and the last reference to him is in 1753
The crest and motto is that of Murray or Carnegie
For a full account of John Allen (1698-1769) see Leslie Southwick, 'The Makers' Marks', 'I.K', 'JA' and 'M.B', Struck On London 18th Century Georgian Silver Gun Furniture...', J.A.A.S., Vol. XXIV, No. 2 (September 2022), pp. 136-185
