Cased pair, Queen Anne Pistols by Wilson c1745

A very fine pair of brass Rococo style Queen Anne, flintlock pistols, in a later period casing, made by Richard Wilson of London around 1745.
Richard Wilson (1703 -1766) was apprenticed to his uncle, Thomas Green in 1718 and became free of the Gunmakers Company in 1725. In 1741 he was made a Master Gunmaker,
The pair of Queen Anne pistols offered here are in the typical classic Rococo style of the mid 18th century.
The three stage, smoothbore, cannon barrels are of .62 caliber and measure 5 ½ inches to the rounded breech. The pistols measure 12 ¼ inches each.
Both pistols have the top of the breech engraved ‘LONDON’ with cannon, flags and drum. The underside of each breech is engraved ‘Wilson’ with early London proofs and ‘RW’, Wilson’s makers mark.
The elegant ‘L’ shaped and engraved frizzen spring is neatly fitted under the brass flash pan.
Both actions are in good working order.
The grips with their large heavy, rounded butts are adorned with silver caps, side plates and echelons. They also have the typical 1740s scallop shell carving around the barrel tangs.
The silver side plates have the typical Rococo decorations of flag draped cannon. The engraved echelons have shields over a stand of arms with the echelons surmounted with Roman gladiator helmets. The echelons are engraved with the unknown original owner’s monogram of ‘WH’.

The large silver butt caps have the grotesque face mask or as some call the pug-nosed face. The edges of the face are adorned with leafy foliage. The cap is finished off with flowering leaf decoration on the cap tangs.
The case and accessories are from a later period. The case bears the original trade label for Thomas North of Southampton. North was a gunmaker in Southampton from 1803 to 1830.
It appears that these pistols came into Mr North’s possession for re-sale in the early 1800s and he then made a case for them.
All in all a very fine and rare pair of genuine 1740s, Queen Anne pistols.
Sold as collector item only.
Because of the value of these item special shipping arrangement may have to be made. Lay buy is available.