Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov c1849

A small pocket pistol, fit for royalty, given to Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov (1782 – 1856) in 1849.
Vorontsov was a nobleman born into a family that was highly influential in Russian political and Imperial affairs. After an extensive European education, the young Vorontsov entered the army and Russian political life. He became especially favoured by the Tsar Nicholas I, to whom he had unswerving loyalty.
He had a long and successful military career with service through out the Napoleonic Wars and the later in the Caucasus. In 1844, he was made Viceroy of the Caucasus and later given the title of Serene Highness or prince. His statue and tomb are located at the Transfiguration Cathedral in the Ukrainian city of Odessa.
With its swirling gold inlays this small flintlock pocket pistol is an outstanding example of the gun maker’s art.
The .44 caliber, smoothbore, round cannon barrel measures just over 3 inches with the whole pistol measuring just under 7 inches. The barrel has finely chiseled foliate and geometric patterns thickly overlaid in gold. The tang also has thick gold overlay and an oval gold punzone with the maker’s initials of ‘DA’.
The lock, cock, top jaw and frizzen, all have similar patterns and gold overlay as the barrel. The action is in perfect working order.
The elaborately styled, gold overlayed trigger guard bears a Cyrillic script engraving as does the butt.
The full stock with a small amount of silver wire work is in very good condition and the rammer is original to the pistol. Oddly, the rammer pipe does not have a gold overlay.
All the screws on the pistol have hand cut edging.
The pistol comes with its original black leather presentation case.
A rare opportunity to acquire a significant artefact from the imperial empire of Tzar Nicholas I.
Sold as collector item only.
Because of the value of this item special shipping arrangement will have to be made.