A Rare Pair Of 20-Bore Flintlock Silver-Mounted Two-Shot Superimposed-Load Breech-Loading Pistols By James Freeman, London, Circa 1725 With two-stage turn-off cannon barrels, border engraved actions each signed below the steel-spring, the breech sections octagonal changing to polygonal and engraved 'LONDON' on each top flat, foliate engraved tangs each with retaining screw behind the finial extending over the breech, the pans each with silver drum acting as a tap for the two charges, separate trigger-guards each with threaded breech-plug and engraved with a flower-head on the bow, moulded figured butts (one with minor chip) each carved with foliage behind the tang, cast and chased mounts comprising a foliate panel either side of the tang with monster-head finial, pierced foliate side-plates, vacant foliate escutcheons, and border engraved spurred pommels each with satyr mask cap within a border of foliated strapwork (iron parts with some scattered light pitting), London proof marks and Freeman's barrelsmith's mark (2) 15.8 cm. barrels Footnotes: Provenance The Dr. Robert Rabett Collection sold in these Rooms, 30 November 2011, lot 549 The Richard Garrett Collection sold in these Rooms, 28 November 2018, lot 315 Exhibited Victoria and Albert Museum, The Art of the Armourer..., 19 April-5 May 1963, cat. no. 276 The City of Rochester-upon-Medway Guildhall Museum Rochester, The Craft Of The Gunmaker 1640-1870, August 1991 - January 1992, cat. no. 82, illustrated Literature D.R. Baxter, Superimposed Load Firearms 1360-1860, 1966, pp. 163 and 447, pl. 90 James Paul Freeman was admitted to the freedom of the Gunmakers' Company on 5 July 1716, and in the same year took over the premises in St. Martins Lane previously occupied by Andrew Dolep to whom he had been turned over in 1705. He was elected Master in 1732 and died in 1736. Both he and his son James are noted for their breech-loading pistols For a similar pair of pistols by the same maker see Christie's London, Fine Antique Firearms from the W. Keith Neal Collection, 9 November 2000, lot 215 For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing