Beautiful pair of flintlock percussion pistols by Boutet, director artist of the Manufacture de Versailles. Rifled, slightly blunderbussed barrels signed "BOUTET DIRECTEUR ARTISTE" and hallmarked "NB" "LC" and "BC". Flat-body locks, one signed "BOUTET DIRECTEUR ARTISTE" and the other "MANUFRE A VERSAILLES". Flat-bodied dogs. Trimmings and flat caps in cut and plain iron. Finely chequered flat-back crossbones and long shafts. Length: 33 cm A.B.E. (minor wear and clean pitting). First Empire period, modified circa 1830. Presented in a later purple velvet-lined case with accessories: mallet, bullet mold, brass powder flask, capsule box, chopstick. Key missing.