Page 261 - 88-BOOK2
P. 261
LOT 1270
Extraordinary Presentation Cased Pair of Exhibition Grade Relief Chiseled, Gold and Silver Inlaid, and Relief Carved Percussion Target Pistols by W. Hanau of Gera -A) W. Hanau Target Pistol - NSN, 10.5 mm cal., 7 3/4 inch octagon bbl., bright/casehardened/silver/gold/blue finish, walnut stock. These incredible ornate pistols may have been manufactured for one of the World’s Fairs. Wilhelm Hanau of Gera, Reuss, is listed as displaying a “Pair of pistols for round and pointed balls, with the necessary apparatus, in a case.” in the catalog for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, the First World’s fair, and he likely exhibited pistols at other exhibitions as well. The inside of the case lid has
259
a label with golden “Fürstl. Lobenstein-Ebersdorfischer ect./Hofbuchsenmacher W. Hanau in Gera” markings flanking the coat of arms of the princely House of Reuss, the rulers of Lobenstein-Ebersdorf.
