An exceptional pair of flintlock presentation pistols Dating: circa 1800 Provenence: France Two-stage, smoothbore barrels with engraved and gilded rings at the girdle, a gilded ring at the moulded muzzle, in the first part are outstanding carvings in bas- and high-relief with trophies, a baldachin and a crescent among bay garlands and branches on a gilded and granulated background, the round part, smooth, decorated with gilded branched held by a ribbon, the sight lays on a heart, 15.5 mm cal.; the tangs are worked en suite; beautiful locks with inside cock and spring, the plates are decorated with a star among a circle of rays and a crown on crossed branches, one of the front parts is signed »Louis Lamotte», the other one »A St. Etienne», finely chiselled and gilded cocks and batteris, the plates' tangs are slightly lowered, decorated with bas-relieved drums surmounted by another drum in high-relief, placed horizontally, that functions as safety-lock; slightly carved ebony full stocks (some small restorations at the mouths), decorated with gold and silver filigree tarsia; extraordinary solid gold mounts sculpted with military trophies and Oriental symbols in high-relief, the sideplates with a tower and walls among trophies and rocailles, trigger guards decorated en suite, the tower with a crescent, signed »Louis Lamotte» on the inside; maritime trophies on the guards surmounted by a half-sphere with a crescent in the middle, four stars around it; on the backs is a star on rays, above a trophy; ivory-tipped ebony ramrods with a gold band, one with iron cartridge extractor, the other one with an iron loop. Together with an antique paper-plate marked »M.es de Vogue» on one side and »50» on the other one. Louis Lamotte, member of the notorious gunsmith dinasty of the XVIII and XIX Century, from Paris and Saint Etienne.