31930-GERMAN GRAND DUKE ERNST AUGUST THE FIRST’S ORNATE PAIR OF ENGRAVED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS WITH GILDED MOUNTS CIRCA EARLY 1700’S. Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach one of the great royal houses of Europe in the early 1700s (died 1748) known for his patronage of the arts and lavish life style. Known as the “Splendor Loving Ruler” with four magnificent residences including Ettersburg Castle and the fabulous Italian Rococo Schloss Dornburg. At the latter with it’s ornate décor booth inside and out, it is considered one of the most ornate Royal Palaces in Germany and for which these pistols were designed and made in the same Rococo style for the Grand Duke himself bearing his Royal Crests on the butt caps. Later displayed in the gunroom at his Ettersburg Castle where they were part of his fabulous collection descending thru the years until the mid 1900’s when the collection was dispersed. Lovely delicate Italian pistols signed on the lock plates “GIO BOTTI” and on the barrels “LAZARINO COMINAZZO”. 15” o/a with 9” smoothbore fluted/round .44 caliber barrels. Floral relief engraved heavy gold gilded brass mounts. Ornate hammers and locks with “Serpent Head” motifs. Carved walnut stocks and ramrods and with belt hooks on side plates. Exceptional all original condition with all the gilding and wood finish. Barrels and locks with excellent original polish and patina evenly mixed. Working order and excellent bores. Also available is a matching Flintlock Carbine made for the Grand Duke from the collection priced separately on request. $24,500