PAIR OF SNAP-LOCK PISTOLS Spanish, end of 18th century, Ripoll / Barcelona, master craftsmen Mas and Deop. Round barrels (L 25.1 cm), Cal. 16 mm, octagonal chamber halves, silver inlays, struck marks: "FO / MAS / SAVI" with a crown on top, and mark Barcelona "SA". Snap locks, mark: "I. H. DEOP" with a crown on top. Brass mounts, grip caps decorated with mascarons, side plates and thumb rests, trigger guard, two ramrod sleeves. Carved walnut shafts, wooden ramrods. L 42.8 cm. The Deop gunsmith dynasty, probably from Germany, was present in Ripoll since the 16th century. Ripoll was in active contact with Barcelona; the gunsmiths Mas were active in Ripoll as well as in Barcelona, as suggested by the mark. Cf. Eugène Heer: Der Neue Støckel, Schwäbisch Hall 1968, Vol. I, p. 286, Vol. II, p. 768, Vol. III, pp. 1527/28.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.