A beautiful snaphaunce lock pistol dating: First half of the 18th Century provenance: North Italy, Smoothbore, two-stage, 11 mm cal. barrels, octagonal base with moulded frames. The rear part finely sculpted with a warrior with plumed helmet, then engraved with floral motifs, then rings at the girdle and another floral engraving. Engraved tang. Lock with rounded lock plate majestically carved with grotesque figures and masks, the base of the batterie with a bust of a learned man and a snake, the spur of the cock with a small bird's head. Sliding pan cover. Wooden full stock finely sculpted with busts, snake's heads and floral motifs. Steel mounts carved with busts, snakes, winged angels playing the trumpet, masks and floral motifs, partially pierced. The counterplate with a hole for a belt hook. The trigger formed by a bust and a snake. Iron-tipped iron ramrod with iron cartridge extractors. High-quality pistol. Although unsigned, it was probably made by a member of the Negroni family. length 38.5 cm.