Michele Battista Pair Of Flintlock Pistols With Coat Of Arms, Royal Manufactory Of Naples Second Half

A rare and remarkable pair of luxurious Neapolitan pistols, attributed to the master gunsmith Michele Battista, made at the prestigious Royal Manufactory of Naples, and distinguished by the presence of an original engraved crowned coat of arms. This pair belongs to the select group of ceremonial weapons produced in the Kingdom of Naples at the end of the Bourbon period, where the quality of execution is accompanied by a strong sense of identity and social status. The Italian-style flintlock mechanisms (known as "miquelet"), signed internally, feature exquisitely fine chasing, enlivened by deeply engraved scrolls, characteristic of the best Neapolitan workshops. The subtly finished round barrels alternate slightly striated areas and smooth surfaces, and terminate in a discreet, elegantly understated rim. The walnut stocks, with their rich and deep patina, are adorned with finely chased gilt bronze and silver mounts. perfectly homogeneous and of remarkable quality of execution. Distinctive element: the heraldic shield. Particularly noteworthy is the presence, on the hilt, of a heraldic shield surmounted by a crown, carefully engraved and integrated from the outset into the mount: – the composition draws on the decorative and heraldic vocabulary of southern Italy in the 18th century – the crown, not royal, suggests a noble or patrician rank – the treatment of the field corresponds to the simplified or adapted arms frequently encountered in Neapolitan commissions. While the precise attribution of these arms remains to be established, their presence and perfect integration very clearly indicate a personalized commission, likely intended for a member of the lesser nobility, a high-ranking officer, or a dignitary linked to the court of the Kingdom of Naples. This type of individualization reinforces the hypothesis of a prestigious, custom-made commission. Context: The Royal Manufactory of Naples produced a limited number of very high-quality weapons intended for an aristocratic clientele. Comparable pieces are today preserved at the Capodimonte Museum in Naples. Dimensions: Length: 36 cm (each) Pairs of Neapolitan pistols retaining their original heraldic identity are exceptionally rare on the market, especially when they can be attributed to a documented master such as Michele Battista.