Description
BOUTET A VERSAILLES. Beautiful pair of present flintlock pistols, presented by the First Consul Bonaparte to General Duhesme. Ribbon barrels, damascus, blued, with hairline stripes, engraved "Manufacture à Versailles Boutet Directeur Artiste", decorated in gold with gilded friezes at the muzzles and adjustable sights, decorated with diamonds, garlands of flowers and florets on a gold background, hallmarked with four "LNB" hallmarks and two Boutet bars. Breechblocks numbered "1" and "2", finely engraved with hunting trophies and deer heads. Lock plates signed "Boutet à Versailles" and swan-neck hammers finely engraved with foliage and lozenges, adorned with hound heads. Oval basins with large sparkle guard. Steel fittings. Finger rests engraved with figures. Fronts of trigger guards with floral urns, shells and foliage. Beautiful short-barrel stocks, in selected walnut, with wickerwork checkering, carved with shells, flowers and spider webs, with carved ebony pommels en suite, enriched with engraved, chased fittings. The backs of the stocks originally bear a large silver plate, cut out, fastened by fifteen small nails and engraved: "Le 1er Consul lors de son voyage à Lion en l'an 11, au Gl Divre Duhesme". A.B.E. Traces of oxidation, notably on the barrels. A copy of the business card and a certificate of sale of these pistols by Comte Duhesme (1983) will be attached. Historical background: An 1842 biography of Duhesme states: "Called to command the 19th military division in 1802, he settled in Lyon, which was its capital. In 1803, the First Consul awarded him a pair of pistols from the Versailles factory. The Lyon bulletin of 10 Brumaire An XII states: "General Duhesme, commander of the 19th military division, has just received a pair of pistols from the Versailles factory, with this inscription engraved on them: Le Premier Consul au général de division Duhesme, lors de son, voyage à Lyon". Related work : -Box of pistols given to General Duhesme by the Directoire (Musée de l'Armée collection) It would appear that the general also received full "armor" at this time.
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BOUTET A VERSAILLES. Beautiful pair of present flintlock pistols, presented by the First Consul Bonaparte to General Duhesme. Ribbon barrels, damascus, blued, with hairline stripes, engraved "Manufacture à Versailles Boutet Directeur Artiste", decorated in gold with gilded friezes at the muzzles and adjustable sights, decorated with diamonds, garlands of flowers and florets on a gold background, hallmarked with four "LNB" hallmarks and two Boutet bars. Breechblocks numbered "1" and "2", finely engraved with hunting trophies and deer heads. Lock plates signed "Boutet à Versailles" and swan-neck hammers finely engraved with foliage and lozenges, adorned with hound heads. Oval basins with large sparkle guard. Steel fittings. Finger rests engraved with figures. Fronts of trigger guards with floral urns, shells and foliage. Beautiful short-barrel stocks, in selected walnut, with wickerwork checkering, carved with shells, flowers and spider webs, with carved ebony pommels en suite, enriched with engraved, chased fittings. The backs of the stocks originally bear a large silver plate, cut out, fastened by fifteen small nails and engraved: "Le 1er Consul lors de son voyage à Lion en l'an 11, au Gl Divre Duhesme". A.B.E. Traces of oxidation, notably on the barrels. A copy of the business card and a certificate of sale of these pistols by Comte Duhesme (1983) will be attached. Historical background: An 1842 biography of Duhesme states: "Called to command the 19th military division in 1802, he settled in Lyon, which was its capital. In 1803, the First Consul awarded him a pair of pistols from the Versailles factory. The Lyon bulletin of 10 Brumaire An XII states: "General Duhesme, commander of the 19th military division, has just received a pair of pistols from the Versailles factory, with this inscription engraved on them: Le Premier Consul au général de division Duhesme, lors de son, voyage à Lyon". Related work : -Box of pistols given to General Duhesme by the Directoire (Musée de l'Armée collection) It would appear that the general also received full "armor" at this time.
