Cased Pair of Percussion Target Pistols with Loading and Cleaning Accessories, Made for Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonné d'Artois, Duke of Bordeaux, Count of Chambord (1820–1883) 1829

Here is a cased pair of percussion target pistols, complete with loading and cleaning accessories, created by Jean André Prosper Henri Le Page. These pistols were made for Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonné d'Artois, Duke of Bordeaux, Count of Chambord. Born into the French aristocracy during a period of immense social upheaval, Chambord lived in exile for much of his life following the deposition of his grandfather, Charles X. With their elaborate gold detailing, these pistols speak to the culture of opulence and privilege in which Chambord was raised, while simultaneously reminding us of the violence and power struggles which defined his life and times. These pistols offer a glimpse into the emotional and experiential life of a man who embodied the contradictions of his era, forced to reconcile personal identity and political destiny. In many ways, this piece acts as a quiet commentary on the intersection of personal identity, power and historical circumstance.