A PAIR OF FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS SIGNED BOTESONT, FINELY CHISELLED IN THE PARISIAN FASHION, DUTCH OR GERMAN, CIRCA 1710
with sighted barrels formed with tapering flats terminating in chiselled demon masks, raised turned mouldings about the muzzles, raised beaded bands of acanthus leaves chiselled over the breeches, each decorated towards the rear with a chiselled vertical arrangement of emblems involving the figure of a Roman warrior standing on a mask and the mounted figure of a Roman Caesar triumphant within a contemporary trophy-of-war, a stag brought down by hounds beneath and signed "P. Bodesocq" in miniscules concealed on the lower sides of the breeches, plain barrel tangs, chiselled flat locks signed "Botesont" within the bevel about the edges, decorated with the figure of Cupid riding a Lion in relief below the pan, chiselled cocks (one broken) and the steels each chiselled with a demon mask, carved moulded figured walnut full stocks carved with scrollwork in low relief about the barrel tangs and about the swell behind the ramrod-pipes (one fore-end incomplete towards the muzzle), full iron mounts elaborately chiselled in low relief, comprising spurred pommels decorated on each side with small classical warrior busts in medallions supported by putti and within a trophy suspending a Medusa mask, each fitted with demon mask cap within an acanthus frame chiselled en suite with the mouldings at the breeches, side-plates pierced with delicate scrolling tendrils carrying leaf ornament and monsters' heads, involving fantastic beasts emerging from flowers and centring on a classical warrior figure seated in triumph amid a trophy, trigger-guards each cut with three further demon masks and drawn out to a pierced scrollwork finial, pairs of strongly moulded faceted ramrod-pipes, and the escutcheons formed as pierced trophies involving draped flags and captive figures enclosing warrior bust medallions, a crowned double eagle perched above (ramrods missing)
52.7 cm; 20¾ in

The signature "Botesont" is probably a Francophonic corruption of the maker's name "Bodesocq", intended presumably to accord with the strongly Parisian character of these pistols. Der Neue Støckel records a Peter Botsont, with further reference to a Peter Bonsing, said to be Dutch and active circa 1700. The Paris-inspired chiselled decoration is unusually imaginative and of exceptional quality, in these respects the chiselling recalls the work of the celebrated Armande Bongarde of Düsseldorf

The decoration is concentrated on classical allusions to Victory and Fame. A comparable design for a side-plate is recorded by Lenk on the gun, destroyed in 1934, made in the Parisian fashion for Augustus "The Strong" by Andreas Erttel of Dresden; see Lenk 1965 (London), pls. 83-84

The warrior medallions on the pommels are, on one pistol, surmounted by the heraldic crown of a German Fürst or Herzog, this detail is omitted on the other pistol