description

Late 18th/early 19th century, the gun dated 1182AH in Arabic (1768)

Provenance

Provenance:
- Auction Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, including Fine Carpets and Textiles, 24 October 2007, lot 260 (pistols)
- Private collection, United Kingdom (pistols)
- Private collection, United Kingdom (gun)

Literature

- D. G. Alexander, Islamic Arms and Armor in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
- N.A. Andersen, Gold and Coral: Presentation Arms from Algiers and Tunis, 2014, pp. 104-7 (ill. 132-35)
- R. Elgood, Firearms of the Islamic World in the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait, 1995.

Detail Description

An extremely rare and splendid Algerian set of silver and red coral inlaid pistols and toe-lock gun

Late 18th/early 19th century, the gun dated 1182AH in Arabic (1768)



L. 48 and 48.5 cm (pistols) / L. 174 cm (gun)



Red coral was prized for its rarity and a prominent decorative technique used on arms in the Ottoman Empire, particularly in Algeria. Similar coral-decorated firearms were amongst the gifts offered by the Dey of Algiers to George IV, the Prince Regent of Great Britain, in 1811 and 1819. They can now be found in the Royal Collection in Windsor Castle (inv. no. CH2075) and the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, too was presented one by the Tunisian Ambassador Mellimelli on behalf of the Bey of Tunis in 1805-6, and is now in the Smithsonian (inv. no. 2000-6339).

The background to this last presentation was Ambassador Sidi Soliman Mellimelli’s highly colourful diplomatic mission to Washington D.C., as a result of which he successfully averted the impending threat of war between Tunis and the United States…. AANVULLEN MET VERHAAL



Literature:

- D. G. Alexander, Islamic Arms and Armor in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,

- N.A. Andersen, Gold and Coral: Presentation Arms from Algiers and Tunis, 2014, pp. 104-7 (ill. 132-35)

- R. Elgood, Firearms of the Islamic World in the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait, 1995.