- 157
A RARE SILVER-BARRELLED PISTOL, INDIA, MID-19TH CENTURY |
Estimate
4,000 - 5,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- 35cm.
of typical form, the lock inlaid with gold, silver faceted barrel engraved with fine inscription in nasta'liq, wood grip, silver mounts
Condition
In good condition, flint missing, minor nicks to wood and metal barrel, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
'Dan O’Callaghan Sahib, the doctor of the arsenal of the Delhi troops. The date of the victory, twentieth of the month of September, corresponding to the first of the month of Safar, [1247] the Christian year 1857'
This gun was most probably produced in India by one of the local English gunmakers installed there, the most well known being John Manton. The inscription, which mentions a Dr Dan O'Callaghan, must refer to someone of that name who published a work on the Indian Mutiny: "O’Callaghan was the Surgeon of the iith N.I., one of the regiments at Meerut ... and it is to be sup-posed that these figures were obtained by enquiry from the Adjutants of the regiments concerned soon after the outbreak." D. O’Callaghan, Scattered Chapters on the Indian Mutiny:The Fatal Falter at Meerut, Calcutta, 1861., p.3. Presumably after the Mutiny in 1858 he was positioned in Delhi.
For further references to him, follow this link:
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.533598.
'Dan O’Callaghan Sahib, the doctor of the arsenal of the Delhi troops. The date of the victory, twentieth of the month of September, corresponding to the first of the month of Safar, [1247] the Christian year 1857'
This gun was most probably produced in India by one of the local English gunmakers installed there, the most well known being John Manton. The inscription, which mentions a Dr Dan O'Callaghan, must refer to someone of that name who published a work on the Indian Mutiny: "O’Callaghan was the Surgeon of the iith N.I., one of the regiments at Meerut ... and it is to be sup-posed that these figures were obtained by enquiry from the Adjutants of the regiments concerned soon after the outbreak." D. O’Callaghan, Scattered Chapters on the Indian Mutiny:The Fatal Falter at Meerut, Calcutta, 1861., p.3. Presumably after the Mutiny in 1858 he was positioned in Delhi.
For further references to him, follow this link:
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.533598.