A princely pair

Probably built for the Prince of Lobkowicz and dating to 1727, these handsome flintlocks boast both Spanish and Austrian influence

- Christian Wellard

DESPITE THE Spanish crown passing into the Bourbon dynasty in 1715, Spain had nonetheless spent the preceding two centuries tied to the Holy Roman Empire. As such, it is not at all unusual to find artefacts that mix these two cultures, as the ruling Habsburgs and their subjects would have taken full advantage of this connection. The Royal Armouries houses several examples of this conviviality but few are as striking as this magnificent pair of flintlock sporting guns [pictured, above]. With ties to makers in both Madrid and Vienna, these guns show off the best of both worlds in one last triumphant display of the baroque style that would soon be superseded across Europe by the more flamboyant rococo.