Pair of Flintlock Pistols of Empress Catherine the great, 1786

Johan Adolph Grecke (Russian, recorded 1755–90)

Russian (Saint Petersburg)
Steel, ivory, gold, and brass
These pistols are part of a deluxe garniture of ivory-stocked hunting arms made for Empress Catherine the Great (r. 1762–96), whose initial (E for Ekaterine) is on the escutcheons (the grips). The garniture, which originally consisted of these pistols, a fowling piece dated 1786 (National Museum, Warsaw), and a rifle (whereabouts unknown), was later given to her favorite, Prince Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski (1732–1798), whom she backed as king of Poland (r. 1764–95). Firearms with ivory stocks, generally out of fashion in western Europe by the eighteenth century, became a favorite in the ostentatious Russian court during the last quarter of the century. Source:Johan Adolph Grecke: Pair of flintlock pistols of Empress Catherine the Great (1986.265.1,2) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Early 18th Century Queen Anne Flintlock Pocket Pistol with 'Mulberry' Rootwood Stock

The art of mulberrying differs little from the common practice of grain-filling, familiar to every cabinetmaker and polisher: The raw or stained wood is normally sealed first and then entirely brushed over with a grainfiller (a stiff mixture of drying oil, silica and earth pigments - including, on occasion, lampblack). For the majority of work, the grainfiller is prepared somewhat darker than the wood itself (except when polishing fair woods like Maple and Satinwood). The filler colors the grain which compliments and accentuates the wood's figure. The grainfiller is rubbed into the grain and the residue removed with a clump of hessian, or if left to dry on the wood's surface, by scraping off with a cabinet scraper. The piece is then polished or varnished in the usual manner.

Mulberrying is simply the practice of rubbing dark grainfiller into the open grain and upturned fibers of naturally yellow or yellow-dyed curly or burr wood.

Photo by Rod Akeroyd & Sons.

Screw Barrel Pocket Pistol

Tiny screw barrel pocket pistol w/ French styling, possibly English or French origin.. circa1685.

Root wood stock. Overall length 6" .38 caliber.

Photos from Robert Weil.

C. Warren Pistol

An early Colonial period, William and Mary Period, English Flintlock Belt/Officer's pistol by C. Warren, ca. 1690. Round to round, 9", baluster-turned smoothbore, .56 caliber, steel barrel with a lightly engraved tang and two 1688 type London Gunmaker Co. proof marks. Also marked with a worn "Warren" maker's signature  0n the breech-top and a clear "*/C.W" (Charles Warren) maker's mark. Early bridle-less flintlock mechanism with thread engraved borders, a strawberry-leaf-engraved tail, its matching gooseneck hammer and clearly signed with a "WARREN" maker's signature. Charles Warred of London, UK worked 1690-1694 and was a gunmaker to the Board of Ordnance in 1697. Retains smooth steel surfaces, sharp engraving, 70%+ polish and fine mechanics. Sculptured, engraved and chiseled, 17th century-style, full steel mounts: The rounded pommel-type butt-cap with strawberry-leaf engraved borders and a stepped screw-retained terminal. The etched and chiseled openwork Serpent-type sideplate of classic English form. The trigger-guard with nicely detailed acanthus leaf finials and a strawberry-leaf "vine engraved" shield-type escutcheon. Molded and raised carved, nicely figured walnut fullstock with a bulbous butt and simple relief carving around the lock, barrel tang and sideplate: a raised acanthus leaf carving, around the ramrod entry. Overall length, 16".

Photos supplied by Robert Weil.