A fine wheellock pistol attributed to Giovan Antonio Gavacciolo dating: mid-17th Century provenance: Northern Italy, Smoothbore, two-stage barrel with a moulded frame at the breech, and moulded muzzle at the nozzle; octagonal at the first segment, featuring the marking 'LAZARINO COMINAZZO' at the back and longitudinal ribbing at the corners, the second segment with longitudinal facets. 12.5 mm cal. barrel at the nozzle. External wheellock carved with leaves; angled hammer throw with baluster-shaped base ending in a bud from which the second part of the hammer throw protrudes, well finished jaws. Marked 'G A' inside the lock plate, with a six-pointed star and crown surmounting it, at the bottom another mark 'G'. Mechanism with some slightly-carved parts. Briarwood full stock in good condition, with no structural cracks, perhaps the fore-end was restored. Iron mounts with decorations of fine quality. The back shield pierced with a dense pattern of racemes and buds, as well as the grip plates and the two counterplate elements (the belt hook is missing) finely decorated with racemes and flowers. Flattened, mushroom-shaped butt-plate with frame in relief decorated with grotesques depicting intertwined snakes with flowers, and a rosette in relief at the top. The trigger guard with band carved en suite with the butt-plate. Trigger finely worked as a fish. Barrel bracket with the same decoration as the other elements. Probably antique ramrod with fine, well-turned tip and iron cartridge extractor. An elegant pistol of high quality, typical of the Brescian masters. The mark inside the plate is attributed by Nolfo Di Carpegna to the famous Giovan Antonio Gavacciolo, see 'Brescian Firearms', page. 65.Giovan Antonio Gavacciolo, known as 'il Guzago' (Gussago and Brescia), was a 'maestro di ruote' (wheellock-master) active in the first half of the 17th century and signed various very valuable locks for important international clients. See 'Repertorio Storico degli Archibugiari Italiani', B. Barbiroli, ed. Clueb 2012, p. 290. length 45,5 cm.