It took a bid of €60,000 (£53,100) to secure this pair of flintlock pistols of c.1730 from the armoury of the Princes of Lobkowitz at Hermann Historica (25% buyer’s premium) in Munich in May.
The price reflected the quality of the workmanship displayed by the Prague maker, Paul Ignatius Poser, and the decorator, Franz Matzendorf. They are covered with leaf motifs, mythological figures and battle scenes including skirmishes with the Turks.