Thomas Del Mar Ltd
Los 368
A FINE AND RARE 32 BORE D.B. RUSSIAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN BY IVAN PUSHKIN, TULA, CIRCA 1790, with individually forged two-stage barrels faceted over the forward portion, retained by a shaped silver band incorporating the fore-sight towards the muzzle, formed with a broad flat at the breech, inlaid in silver and two colours of gold with elaborate panels of scrollwork enclosing the maker`s inscription in Roman and Cyrillic characters, a pair of birds-of-prey above a cornucopia and all framed by slender panels of martial trophies, silver lined vents, the breech tang fitted with a moulded back-sight and damascened in silver and two colours of gold with scrolling foliage (the barrels very slightly shortened and the back-sight added in the gun`s early working life), stepped bevelled locks inlaid with trophies-of-war beneath the pans and bouquets on the tails, the cocks and top-jaws decorated en suite, figured walnut half stock inlaid with delicate patterns of silver wire scrollwork behind the rear ramrod-pipe, ahead of the trigger-guard, and about the tang (the fore-end with minor repairs), the latter incorporating trophies-of-arms, chequered grip, the butt with carved raised cheek-piece on the left, inlaid with further trophies-of-arms and scrolls in silver wire on each side, the spine and behind the trigger-guard, inlaid with an engraved gilt copper plaque decorated with a cupid mask on the left and right hand sides, a garland incorporating a trophy-of-hunting beneath, the cheek-piece applied with a further gilt-copper plaque decorated with a pair of birds above a bouquet of flowers and garlands formed as an inverted Imperial Crown, engraved steel mounts damascened in silver and two colours of gold, comprising butt-plate decorated with a pair of game birds entwined by a garland supporting a cornucopia, trigger-guard with shaped terminal matching the butt-plate and with a trophy-of-war incorporating a fasces on the bow, rear ramrod-pipe decorated with a trophy and a pair of fronds, vacant gilt copper escutcheon, and engraved bone fore-end cap, and complete with its steel-tipped ramrod (the decoration with light wear and minor losses), 77.5cm; 30 1/2in barrels. Signed Tula firearms are notably rare and few by this maker are recorded. Another is preserved in the Moscow Kremlin and another, formerly in the Clay P. Bedford collection, is illustrated in W. B. Gusler and J. D. Lavin, 1977, p. 226-227. The Bedford gun and the present example both share a number of features that are characteristic of high quality Tula gunmaking of this period. Namely, the use of silver and two colours of gold on the steel mounts, fine silver wire on the stock, and inlaid gilt copper plaques. The style and use of damascene about the tang of the Bedford gun is identical to that of the present gun`s butt-plate and trigger-guard. Both guns share the use of the inverted Imperial crown on the cheek-piece, all of which are indictative of this maker`s work. See J.F. Hayward, 1963, p. 268 and ill. 79C.
