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Click here to subscribeA green leather Chesterfield button back settee, labelled Greengate to underside, in the club style, raised on screw on turned supports, 55cm high x 241cm wide CONDITION REPORT: Lot 652 - good condition, small patch to left hand side where back meets seat, however been patched in same leather, and another patch left corner of back, but good sturdy frame.
A late 18th Century enamel patch box, of oval form with metal mounts, the hinged lid painted with a three quarter length portrait of a lady holding a lamb on a turquoise blue base, 5cm wide, together with a continental porcelain pill box of oval form with metal mounts, the hinged lid transferred and painted with a study of a peacock on a pale blue base, 6cm wide (2)
A small modern Moorcroft footed circular bowl, the interior decorated with "Spring Flowers" pattern on blue/turquoise ground, the exterior in plain midnight blue, impressed "Moorcroft" to base, diameter 11cm. CONDITION REPORT: Crazing to glaze, the interior has a small approx 1cm patch of top glaze missing. Appears to have tiny dots of emulsion paint on it which should be removable.
A Contax I Rangefinder Camera, chrome, serial no. G20848, with Zeiss-Opton T Sonnar f/1.5 50mm lens, chrome, serial no. 712551, body, G-VG, shutter working, lens, G, some internal haze and single fungal patch, in maker’s case; top plate marked with Kriegsmarine stamp and ‘M5’, and base plate marked ‘MF 1041’ and ‘Kriegsmarine Eigentum’
A J. H. Dallmeyer 2B War Department Aluminium Lens, with inscription ‘iris added by T.T.&H. Feb 3 1919’, serial no. 51380, body, G, missing rack and pinion, G-VG, some light marks to rear elements and internal haze, together with a small fungal patch to front element, in T. T. & H. flange, with maker’s aluminium lens hood; engraved to barrel ‘W. D.’ and with broad arrow
** Mat Collishaw (b. 1966) - Pure Sensation, 2003 household paint on ceramic tiles, mounted on to ply wood, in 6 parts each 40 x 42 1/2 in., 101.6 x 108 cm Provenance: Stuart Shave/Modern Art, London. In all, Collishaw produced 7 large scale mosaic works for his exhibition at Modern Art in 2003, of which Pure Sensation is one. The selection process for the original photographic material to be scaled up does not necessarily follow an identifiable logic; he seems to have been more interested in locating images that may not have had sufficient representation with the annals of art history. The overriding focus of this body of works, therefore, is process-driven. The artist describes the series as follows: "During the inception of digital photography it occurred to me that the pixelated format of the electronic image bore a strong resemblance to the ancient technique of forming images with mosaic tiles. The digital image required a meticulous analysis of its subject and was more analogous to the use of code in translating information than the subjective interpretation of a painter. Each patch of skin or braid of hair had a particular colour or tonal value that was recordable and empirically precise. I developed a computer program that scanned an image and determined the exact shade of grey on a scale of 1 to 100. The tones were painted onto ceramic tiles that were arranged in a way that was prescribed by computer, with no room for human intervention." IMPORTANT: This lot is sold subject to Artists Resale Rights, details of which can be found in our Terms and Conditions.
A 44 bore box lock flintlock pistol with a turn off barrel. It bears the makers name Siddons London. It has Birmingham pre 1855 proof marks. It is in excellent condition and retains most of its original finish with a slight patch of rust on the right slab side. This specimen is one of the better quality pocket pistols made during this period. A William Siddons operated as a gun lock maker in Birmingham between 1817 and 1855. It was common for Birmingham Gunmakers to mark their weapons 'London' since London marked guns commanded a higher retail price.
A cased set of 34 bore Officers percussion pistols. The locks are marked Nock and the barrel have London engraved on their top surface however they carry Birmingham proof marks indicating they were made in Birmingham. Their butt caps appear to be of silver but are not hallmarked. One ramrod is a replacement. The case contains a powder flask, bullet mould, cleaning rod, patch cutter and tin of caps. The pistols and case are in excellent condition.
**AN ENGLISH OR FLEMISH CLOSE HELMET FOR HEAVY FIELD USE, CIRCA 1560-70 with one-piece skull rising to a high roped medial comb pierced at its rear with a later transverse hole, visor, upper bevor and lower bevor attached to the skull by common pivots with small radially-fluted domed heads, the forward-sloping visor stepped in front of its broad undivided vision-slit and fitted at the right with a slender lifting-peg (replaced), the prow-shaped upper bevor secured at the right of the chin by a spring-catch (its push-button release replaced) to the lower bevor which is in turn secured to the skull at the right of the neck by a swivel-hook and pierced stud, and two gorget-plates front and rear (the lowest front one and both rear ones restored), the main edges of the helmet decorated with file-roped inward turns accompanied, except around the face-opening of the lower bevor, by a recessed border, and the surface of the helmet with a black finish overall (the left of the skull with a small riveted patch at the left ear and the upper bevor with small chip towards the rear of its upper edge) 29.7 cm; 11½ in
**A SOUTH GERMAN COLLAR, LATE 16TH CENTURY formed of three lames front and rear, the lowest of which is deeper than the rest and first of which is formed at its upper edge with a file-roped inward turn, the two sections joined at the left by an internal hinge and fastened at the right by studs and holes, the lowest front lame (associated) decorated at its upper edge with a series of evenly-spaced dots (the lowest front and rear lames respectively showing some plugged holes and small riveted patch 17.1 cm; 6¾ in diameter
**A SOUTH GERMAN ZISCHÄGGE AND COLLAR, EARLY 17TH CENTURY the first of notable weight, comprising rounded one-piece skull originally forming part of a close-helmet, rising to a high medial comb, struck at the left of the brow with the proof-mark of a bullet, fitted at the nape, beneath a slender-plume-holder, with a narrow round-ended neck-guard of five-lames (restored), at the front with an obtusely-pointed pivoted peak (associated and fitted at the rear of its right arm with five blind rivets designed to prevent its metal from delaminating) fitted on its underside with a later triple-barred face-defence (the central bar lacking its retaining-rivet), and at each side with a large hinged cheek-piece of four lames (restored using old metal, the right with a small patch), the uppermost lame in each case cut at the top of its front edge with a shallow outward-flanged notch shaped around the wearer's eye and pierced at its centre with nine small auditory holes in rosette-formation; the second formed of a front and rear section, each of four lames, joined by a hinge at the left and closed by studs and holes at the right; the main edges of both elements, excepting those of the neck-guard of the helmet, formed with plain inward turns, and the subsidiary edges of the helmet bordered by pairs of incised lines (both elements moderately patinated overall) See note at front of catalogue for information concerning stands Provenance The Armoury of Archduke Eugen, Schloss Hohenwerfen, Salzburg, Austria, sold Anderson Galleries, New York, 5 March 1927, lot 1064 JWHA Inv. No. 191 Exhibited Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1928-30 Literature Stephen V. Grancsay, Catalogue of Armor: The John Woodman Higgins Armory, Worcester, 1961, p. 106
**A SOUTH GERMAN COLLAR, AUGSBURG, EARLY 17TH CENTURY formed of a single plate front and rear, originally fitted at its outer ends with articulated spaudlers (now replaced in each case by a single restored fixed lame), the edge of its upward-flanged neck-opening formed with a plain inward-turn, and the obtusely-pointed lower edge of its front plate struck with the fir-cone mark of the city of Augsburg and the serial-number 40 (the lower edges of the front and rear plates each repaired with a small internal patch, and all parts lightly patinated overall) Provenance JWHA Inv. No. 404
**A PAIR OF MITTEN GAUNTLETS, 19TH CENTURY, IN THE GERMAN 'MAXIMILIAN' STYLE OF THE EARLY 16TH CENTURY; AND A PAIR OF BESAGUES, 19TH CENTURY, IN THE GERMAN 'GOTHIC' STYLE OF THE LATE 15TH CENTURY the first formed in each case of a short slightly flaring straight-ended cuff closed at the inside of the wrist by a riveted patch, four metacarpal-plates, a knuckle-plate extending mid-way down the fingers, and the main plate of a laterally-hinged thumb-defence, the metacarpal and knuckle-plates decorated with a distally diverging array of seven flutes, enclosed in each case by a pair of incised lines, the lower edge of the knuckle-plate formed with a plain inward turn accompanied by a recessed border, and the lower edge of the cuff decorated with filed diagonal nicks enclosed to the inside by a single incised line (each gauntlet showing patches of light active rust); and the second formed in each case of a disc formed peripherally with eleven cusps and rising at its centre to a conical boss having a broad base formed with a like number of cusps, and the whole suspended from a leather strap (4) Provenance Purportedly from 'an ancient Spanish armory' Edward C. Converse, sold American Art Association, New York, 25-6 November 1927, lot 292 JWHA Inv. No. 404 Literature Stephen V. Grancsay, Catalogue of Armor: The John Woodman Higgins Armory, Worcester, 1961, pp. 50-1
**A RARE 25 BORE ENGLISH FLINTLOCK BREECH-LOADING REPEATING MAGAZINE GUN ON THE LORENZONI PRINCIPLE, CIRCA 1690 with three-stage barrel formed with a pronounced octagonal moulding incorporating a silver fore-sight at the muzzle, etched with foliage (previously damascened) behind, faceted breech retaining traces of damascened ornament including leafy foliage, grooved for sighting and fitted with rotating brass breech block operated by a moulded lever on the left, the tang damascened with a green man mask, rounded lock engraved in the French taste with a scroll inscribed 'God save the King' carried by a cherub, fitted with engraved cock decorated with a serpent and foliage (top-jaw and screw replaced), powder magazine with engraved cover, the opposite side of the lock with a trap door for the ball magazine figured walnut half-stock (a working replacement) carved with a moulding about the tang, moulded iron trigger-guard damascened en suite with the breech, and iron butt-cap (patch box cover replaced) 67.5 cm; 26 ½ in barrel Provenance The Gill family, Hale, Liverpool until circa 1965. The present system is named after the Florentine gunsmith Michelle Lorenzoni though there is no evidence to suggest that he was the inventor of it. This system seems to have enjoyed some popularity in England, as evidenced by the frequently quoted text of Samuel Pepys who wrote on 3rd July 1662 'A gun to discharge seven times, the best of all devices I ever saw, and very serviceable, and not a bauble; for it is much approved of, and many made thereof'. However, given the design it is likely that a number of the powder magazines exploded thus accounting for the rarity of such arms today. For an account of Lorenzoni see J. F. Hayward 1963, pp. 141-143.
A GERMAN SPORTING BULLET CROSSBOW (SLURBOW), LATE 17TH CENTURY with small steel bow, walnut tiller swelling about the release mechanism and formed with cheek-piece and patch-box, the latter fitted with sliding cover (associated), inlaid with engraved horn plaques including a demon mask and a coat-of-arms on the underside, additionally inlaid with an earlier series of engraved plaques, including a horse and a unicorn flanking the mechanism, a female nude and two grotesques, and fitted with iron loop, long angular trigger-guard, iron nut, horn butt-plate, and iron barrel formed in two stages (the tiller with inactive worm damage and an early repair involving a brass plate reinforcing the trigger area). Length 62.3cm; 24 ½in.
AN 80-BORE DUTCH FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE BY LUCAS VAN SOLINGEN, AMSTERDAM, CIRCA 1690-1700 with octagonal sighted barrel decorated with punched and engraved scrollwork over the breech and ahead of the back-sight, linear mouldings encircling the swamped muzzle and the bore cut with eight narrow grooves, gilt-brass lock with bevelled edges, signed "L. Van Solingen Amsterdam", engraved with wavy linear borders and with small leaf and scrollwork designs, and the pan-cover fitted with swing-out safety-steel, rootwood full stock carved with a series of decorative mouldings in low relief, including a pronounced scrolling swell about the ramrod-pipe, the butt with carved raised cheek-piece and fitted with sliding patch-box cover (the cover with inactive worm damage), full gilt-brass mounts cast in low relief, the butt-plate with decorated tang extending over the length of the comb, the trigger-guard with acanthus finials, the side-plate pierced with a scrollwork pattern involving a figure from mythology driving a chariot, three faceted ramrod-pipes, ornate cartouche-shaped escutcheon cast with a demon mask and coronet, mounts for a sling, horn fore-end cap, and original horn-tipped wooden ramrod (the fore-end cracked in several places on both sides and chipped in several places along the right-hand edge). 86cm; 33 7/8 in barrel
A RARE 13-BORE SAXON HEAVY FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE BY JOHAN HEINRICH FRANCK OF FRANKENHAUSEN, CIRCA 1730 of massive proportions throughout, with swamped octagonal sighted barrel engraved with a band of leaf ornament over the breech, the muzzle face engraved with a wreath and the bore cut with eight grooves, bevelled lock signed "Jh Heinrich Franck" about the base of the pan, engraved with a two-part hunting-scene involving a mounted sportsman shooting a stag with a pistol, and the cock and the steel each chiselled with scrollwork designs on a contrasting pounced fish-roe ground, figured walnut full stock carved with acanthus leaf mouldings in low relief, the butt with carved cheek-piece inlaid with a star formed of contrasting segments of black and white horn (two pieces missing), the toe of the butt inset with a gilt-brass plaque cast in relief with acanthus scrolls, en suite with both the patch-box cover and the upper tang of the butt-plate, the latter two pieces each additionally cast with a trophy-of-arms, the butt-plate also involving the figure of a Turk supported by a mask, the trigger-guard decorated en suite, with gilt-brass side-plate formed as a large scrolling dragon cast in relief, three faceted moulded ramrod-pipes also of gilt-brass, the rear pipe decorated with a demon mask, decorated escutcheon cast with a bust and a grotesque mask, moulded faceted gilt-brass fore-end cap, and brass-tipped wooden ramrod, probably the original (the barrel and the lock each lightly cleaned with acid, the top jaw possibly associated). 104.2cm; 41 in barrel
A .330 CALIBRE SILESIAN WHEEL-LOCK BIRDING RIFLE (TSCHINKE), THIRD QUARTER OF THE 17TH CENTURY with slender octagonal barrel swamped at the muzzle, struck with maker's mark, probably that of Georg (1) KaÅ‚uża (Neue Støckel 7678), hexagonal bore rifled with six very narrow grooves and fitted with copper fore-sight and moulded tubular back-sight, engraved slender lock fitted with mechanism of characteristic part-external construction, engraved with a boldly drawn pattern of scrolling flowers, fitted with engraved sliding pan-cover with brass release button, the wheel-spindle impaling an arched and brass-covered bracket engraved with a guilloche band, the dog engraved with a stylised grotesque and a flower, and retaining the original brass bridle for fitting over the mainspring (the mainspring, its chain, the setting button and the bridle for the dog-spring all missing), fruitwood full stock inlaid over its length with a series of engraved horn plaques interspersed with plain mother-of pearl plaques, the latter lozenge-shaped over the fore-end and formed as discs over the rear, all arranged within horn linear borders and segmental lines, the butt with carved cheek-piece decorated with a horn roundel engraved with the bust of a Turk, and fitted with horn butt-plate, iron trigger-guard, and engraved horn fore-end cap (the patch-box cover, four horn plaques, the ramrod-pipe and the ramrod all missing). 99cm; 39in barrel
A RARE 52-BORE GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE WITH SELF-SPANNING LOCK DATED 1653, THE BARREL AND THE STOCK DATED 1666 AND 1671 RESPECTIVELY with lightly swamped octagonal sighted barrel cut with hexagonal bore rifled with six narrow groves, the breech struck with maker's mark, in a shield, HS, a bird beneath, and with the date "1666", earlier large lock engraved with an arrangement of fruit at the rear, with an exotic bird perched within flowering branches above the date "1653", and struck with the letter "M" flanked by the date and by the lightly engraved letters "EB", fitted with flat wheel-cover overlaid with a plate pierced and engraved with addorsed tritons suspended between concentric wreaths, engraved moulded pan-cover with release formed as a trick rosette, the arm of the dog constructed with a flush-fitted engraved arm pivoting to engage a corresponding slot in the self-spanning spindle, and the upper section of the dog decorated with triton figures and a marine monster, the lock interior retaining some original blued finish and fitted with engraved mainspring and elaborately decorated facing plates, one also forming the pan-cover spring and pierced and engraved with a game-dog, the other forming the spindle bridle and engraved with a further scrolling triton armed with a bow, with walnut full stock, fluted fore-end, the rear portion of the stock with lightly carved border mouldings picked-out with pewter nails, incised designs of foliage and flowers, the cheek-piece cut with a running stag and the upper surface of the butt with the owner's stamped cornet and cypher "GA" , with pierced bone water-drain, horn butt-plate, and iron trigger-guard and ramrod-pipe (the fore-end extensively chipped on both sides, the butt chipped above the patch-box, its cover and the ramrod each missing) 82.5cm; 32 ½ in. barrel The lock compares closely with another self-spanning example neither marked nor dated, combined with a matchlock mechanism, on a rifle included in the preceding sale from the castle armoury, in these rooms 3rd December 2014, lot 286; the two locks are certainly from the same workshop. The earlier barrel and lock are undoubtedly the originals on which this rifle was built, presumably in 1671.
A PAIR OF 28-BORE NORTH GERMAN (BRUNSWICK) FLINTLOCK RIFLED SPORTING CARBINES BY HINRICH TIMPER (SIC.), BLANCKENBURG, DATED 1720 each with swamped octagonal sighted barrel inscribed "Blanckenburg 1720" and rifled with eight grooves, engraved bevelled lock retained by concealed side-nails, signed on a scroll issuant from the mouth of a griffin, decorated with small demon masks along the upper edge and about the lip of the pan, engraved at the rear with a horseman shooting a Devil engraved on the cock, the latter also chiselled with a marine monster and retained by a screw with chiselled grotesque mask head, and the steel decorated with a demon mask chiselled in relief (actions defective, one top jaw and screw missing), each with figured walnut full stock carved with a series of decorative mouldings, including acanthus leaf motifs and scrolls (one chipped extensively above the lock), the butt flattened along its underside and with carved cheek-piece and carved sliding patch-box cover involving a demon mask, its brass tongue also forming the release catch, gilt-brass mounts including butt-plate engraved prominently with a female contemporary figure costumed as Minerva or Athena, a coronet above, bevelled solid side-plate engraved with a lion running in landscape before a walled town (one side-plate missing), the trigger-guards engraved with differing demon masks, one engraved on the bow with a gentleman in contemporary dress, the other with a classical bust, engraved ramrod-pipes, and escutcheons decorated with putti and engraved with lion supporters flanking a shield cut with the owner's monogram "CL", a princely crown above, and each fitted with horn fore-end cap, sling mounts and original horn-tipped ramrods (one sling mount incomplete, one ramrod now a poor fit). 59cm; 23 ¼ in barrels (2) The owner's monogram is probably that of Christine Louise (1671-1747), daughter of Albrecht Ernst, Prince of Öttingen. She was also the wife of Ludwig Rudolph, Duke of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel and ruler of the newly created Principality of Blankenburg
A 22-BORE GERMAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE, CIRCA 1730 with octagonal twist barrel swamped at the muzzle, inlaid with a silver Bandelwerk design over the breech, with further small silver inlays enclosing the chiselled back-sight and the bore cut with seven grooves, bevelled lock with engraved subsidiary borders and finely engraved with trophies-of-war, the cock and the steel each cut with scrollwork designs on a recessed darkened ground, figured walnut full stock carved with a series of mouldings in low relief over its rear half, including an elaborate scrollwork design about the ramrod-pipe, further scrollwork motifs about the barrel tang, the trigger-guard and the butt carved about both the base of the comb and the cheek-piece, the butt flattened over the length of its underside, with patch-box fitted with sliding cover carved en suite with scrollwork and moving on a button release enclosed by a brass garland cast in low relief, full brass mounts cast in low relief, comprising butt-plate cast and engraved with Laub und Bandelwerk ornament characteristic of the period, solid side-plate cast with figures and animals in an idyllic hunting scene in low relief on a matted ground, the trigger-guard and three faceted ramrod-pipes decorated en suite with the butt-plate, ornate escutcheon involving lion supporters, a bust and a coronet, horn fore-end cap, sling-swivels, and horn-tipped wooden ramrod (the fore-end crack in two places on both sides). 76cm; 30 in barrel
A BALTIC SNAP-LOCK BIRDING RIFLE, CIRCA 1650 of characteristic form, with slender swamped octagonal sighted small-bore barrel engraved with decorative lines and bands of scrolling foliage over the breech and muzzle, rifled with eight narrow grooves and with later blued finish (back-sight missing), flat lock engraved with a bold pattern of flowering scrolling leafy tendrils and fitted with pivoting pan-cover originally carrying a separate safety-steel (the mainspring and the steel each missing), wooden full stock decorated over its rear portion with a series of brass roundels engraved with garlands and flowers within fields of brass wire scrollwork, carved slender butt, the underside with patch-box of Baltic type with sliding cover, iron trigger-guard, and a brass band inset beneath the muzzle (the fore-end chipped on one side towards the muzzle, a second brass band, the butt-plate and the ramrod each missing). 75.6cm; 29 ¾ in barrel A similar rifle is in the Tøjhusmuseum, Copenhagen (inv. no. B 883), see Blackmore 1965, pl. 143. A pair of Baltic rifles with snap-locks which compare closely with that of the present example were formerly in the W. Keith Neal collection, sold Christie's, 9 November 2000, lot 128.
A 48-BORE SOUTH GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING CARBINE, SCHWÄBISCH-GMÜND, DATED 1668 with swamped octagonal sighted barrel decorated with engraved small bands over the breech and muzzle, the muzzle face engraved with a matching circlet, the bore cut with five grooves alternating with five narrow grooves, and the breech struck with the unicorn mark of Schwäbisch-Gmünd twice and with the maker's stamped abbreviated signature "*H*V*G*" (Neue Støckel 1629 and 3151 respectively), with plain lock fitted with pierced flat wheel-cover, sliding pan-cover with button release, the dog-spring bridle en suite with the wheel-cover and the dog engraved with two monsters, fruitwood full stock, fluted fore-end, the rear half of the stock finely carved in low relief and incised with border panels, acanthus ornament and scrolling designs of leafy tendrils all heightened with light hatching, with incised patterned thumb-rest, a stag vignette in low relief opposite the lock, the cheek-piece with the owner's coat-of-arms and crest finely carved in low relief within a matted fluted oval, cut with the date "1668" and with the stockmaker's initials "I.S" behind the barrel tang, fitted with sliding patch-box cover carved with a bird-of-prey, iron trigger-guard, and the butt-plate and fore-end cap each of natural staghorn en suite with the side-nail washers (the back-sight, the mainspring, the ramrod-pipe and the ramrod all missing, the ramrod-channel and the patch-box cover each chipped). 55.3cm; 21 ¾in. barrel The signature abbreviated on the barrel is that of a member of the Haas family of gunmakers and in full would read: "Haas von Gmünd". Neue Støckel attributes the use of this abbreviation to Johannes Haas, although Michael Haas (circa 1635-d.1701) is the more likely.
AN 87-BORE GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK LIGHT SPORTING CARBINE, DATED 1664 with slender octagonal sighted barrel rifled with eight grooves, the breech struck with a rectangular mark, "M", plain lock fitted with external wheel retained by a kidney-shaped bracket, sliding pan-cover with scallop finial, moulded engraved dog, fruitwood full stock decorated over its rear half with lightly carved and incised small designs of foliage, scrolls and border ornament, the butt inlaid with designs of horn pellets enclosing engraved horn roundels on both the check-piece and patch-box cover, incised with the date "1664" and with the initials "FH", perhaps those of the stockmaker, fitted with horn butt-plate, iron trigger-guard, and bone ramrod-pipe and fore-end cap (back-sight and ramrod missing). 74.5cm; 29 3/8 in barrel
A 23-BORE GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING CARBINE, CIRCA 1650-60 with lightly swamped octagonal sighted barrel rifled with eight very shallow grooves and the breech struck with maker's large initials "CR", plain lock fitted with flat wheel-cover and sliding pan-cover with button release, walnut full stock, fluted fore-end, the rear portion of the stock with fluted and stamped brattished borders and additionally sparsely decorated with stamped small designs of minute rosettes and pellets, sliding patch-box cover decorated en suite, and inlaid with horn rosettes under the side-nails, with horn butt-plate engraved with the owner's coat-of-arms quartered beneath a scroll cut with the abbreviated inscription "MGZOGGZE", fitted with iron trigger-guard (trigger mechanism missing), a slotted brass band reinforcing the wooden ramrod-pipe, and horn-tipped wooden ramrod 69.5cm 27 3/8 in barrel The arms are those of Erbach of Hesse, created Counts of the Holy Roman Empire in 1532.
A 26-BORE SOUTH GERMAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE SIGNED FISCHER A WEICKERSHEIM, CIRCA 1725 with swamped octagonal sighted barrel inscribed "A Weickersheim" , brass-lined vent, and the bore cut with a rifled pattern of seven grooves alternating with seven extremely narrow grooves, signed bevelled plain lock recessed at the rear and its external components chiselled in part in low relief, figured curly walnut full stock carved with a series of decorative raised mouldings, the butt with shallow cheek-piece inset with the brass wire number "4" and fitted with sliding patch-box cover on the right, full brass mounts including flat side-plate pierced and engraved with a scrollwork design involving a grotesque mask and a pair of monsters' heads, three faceted ramrod-pipes, horn fore-end cap, one sling-swivel, and original horn-tipped ramrod. 84.5cm; 33 ¼ in barrel
A 45-BORE SOUTH GERMAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE BY BLANCK, CIRCA 1730 with swamped octagonal sighted barrel rifled with seven grooves, signed bevelled lock engraved with the figure of Minerva seated within a trophy-of-war, a further trophy engraved at the rear, highly figured rootwood full stock carved with a series of raised decorative mouldings, the butt with flattened underside, carved cheek-piece and rootwood patch-box cover, full brass mounts cast in low relief, the butt-plate decorated with a scrollwork pattern involving a female bust and a putto mask, the side-plate pierced with a Bandelwerk pattern carrying a festooned demon mask, the trigger-guard with acanthus finials and decorated with a monster on the bow, three strongly shaped faceted baluster ramrod-pipes, the rear pipe decorated with a grotesque mask, and cartouche-shaped escutcheon cast with a coronet and the bust of a nobleman (the butt with a nail hole on the right, the fore-end cracked on one side and with several repairs on both sides over its length, the rear portion of the side-plate replaced, ramrod missing). 72.4cm; 28 ½ in barrel
A 29-BORE BAVARIAN FLINTLOCK RIFLED SPORTING CARBINE, CIRCA 1760 with swamped octagonal sighted barrel with maker's gold-lined stamp of Leonhard Riegel of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, decorated with a chiselled band of beadwork over the breech, rifled with seven grooves and fitted with chiselled folding back-sight, plain rounded lock, figured walnut full stock carved with a series of rococo scrollwork mouldings in low relief, including an elaborate motif about the barrel tang and the butt decorated with related designs to the rear of the cheek-piece and about the base of the comb, fitted with sliding patch-box cover carved with a flattened moulding en suite with the underside of the butt, plain gilt-brass mounts predominantly faceted and terminating in lateral fluted mouldings, solid side-plate with bevelled edges, horn fore-end cap, one sling-swivel, and iron ramrod. 63.8cm; 25 1/8 in barrel
A PAIR OF BAVARIAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING CARBINES BY JOHANN WOLF PETTER (OF ÖTTINGEN), ONE WITH RIFLED 35-BORE BARREL, THE OTHER RE-BARRELLED FOR SHOT, CIRCA 1680 the first built on an earlier swamped octagonal sighted barrel rifled with eight grooves, inscribed "RAV" on one side at the breech and dated 1625, the second with shortened smooth-bore barrel (replaced, most probably within the period of intended use), each with rounded lock engraved with flowering foliage involving a stag pursued by a hound, signed in an arc around the base of the pan, and the top jaw formed with a projecting tail shaped for the thumb and engraved with a serpent (one lock-plate cracked at the rear, one cock retaining screw replaced), with carved moulded figured walnut full stocks (one shortened when re-barrelled), each carved with an elaborate scrollwork design in low relief about the barrel tang, inlaid with engraved horn plaques including leaves and ball flowers clustered about variously shaped rootwood marquetry plaques, the butts each with carved cheek-piece inlaid at the base with arrangements of contrasting horn strips and engraved horn designs filled with marquetry, inlaid with a variegated larger marquetry cartouche formed as a bird-of-prey perched upon a flowering branch, and the opposing side above with patch-box cover veneered in rootwood enclosed by plaques of engraved horn and decorated with demon mask, with engraved horn ramrod-pipes and fore-end cap each also involving strips of contrasting horn, iron butt-plates, iron trigger-guards with pierced chiselled finials, and one retaining its original ramrod with horn cap decorated en suite with the fore-end cap (one fore-end repaired at the front of the lock, both fore-ends cracked, both stocks with small chips throughout, small pieces of inlay missing, one ramrod-pipe incomplete, one ramrod associated). 62.2cm; 24 ½ in and 46.4cm; 18 ¼ in barrels (2)
A 27-BORE SOUTH GERMAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE, CIRCA 1730 built on an earlier heavy octagonal barrel, cut with a series of decorative narrow bands at the breech and muzzle, the latter swamped and struck with the small letter "E" on its face, the breech signed and dated "Johan Wolf Petter in Oettingen 1693", struck with a mark (rubbed) and with lined vent and pierced chiselled back-sight, with plain detented lock with bevelled edges (the steel-spring broken), carved moulded figured walnut full stock, the butt flattened along its underside and the patch-box fitted with sliding cover, full brass mounts cast in low relief, inspired in part by the published designs of Claude Simonin, comprising butt-plate decorated with scrolls and a demon mask framing a classical half-figure, solid side-plate decorated with a scrollwork design involving a winged and breasted monster in relief on a stippled ground, trigger-guard with pierced finial and cast with a further demon mask, three faceted ramrod-pipes and cartouche-shaped escutcheon filled with a classical bust, with horn fore-end cap, one sling-swivel, and wooden ramrod. 80cm; 31 ½ in barrel Claude Simonin published his series of designs for firearms in Paris in 1684, as a pattern book entitled "Plusiers Pieces Et Ornaments Darquebuzerie ….. etc.". Simonin's designs proved a strong influence among German gunmakers working in fashionable emulation of the Parisian Louis XIV style, from shortly after publication until about 1735. The original pierced version of the design for the side-plate on the present rifle appears on page 10 in an edition of 1692 and is reproduced in Grancsay 1970, p.81.
A 42-BORE GERMAN FLINTLOCK RIFLED SPORTING CARBINE SIGNED GEORG C. FREUND A FURSTENAU, DATED 1742 with swamped octagonal sighted barrel signed and dated in gold, gold-lined vent and rifled with seven grooves, plain rounded lock, figured walnut full stock carved in low relief with a series of rococo scrollwork motifs, the butt with raised cheek-piece inset with an engraved gilt-brass plaque and carved with C-scroll patterns at the rear and about the base of the comb, the patch-box with sliding cover inset with a brass relief plaque cast and pierced with a stag brought down by hounds, brass mounts cast in low relief in the Parisian taste, comprising butt-plate decorated with the figure of Diana within a framework capped by a demon mask, side-plate decorated with a pierced scrollwork design filled with a further stag brought down by hounds, the trigger-guard en suite and with ornate finial involving a classical mask, two decorated faceted ramrod-pipes, decorated brass fore-end cap, brass-tipped ramrod, and brass shield-shaped escutcheon clasped in the talons of a bird-of-prey and engraved with the owner's coat-of-arms (the barrel and lock acid-cleaned, the maker's gold signature incomplete, the lock pan removed, the stock and the mounts with cleaning wear). 62.3cm; 24 ½ in barrel The arms are those of Georg August, Graf zu Erbach-Fürstenau (1651-1758).
A 35-BORE GERMAN FLINTLOCK RIFLED SPORTING CARBINE BUILT ON AN EARLIER AUSTRIAN BARREL BY CASPAR ZELLNER, CIRCA 1765-70 with octagonal barrel inlaid with gold scrollwork at the breech, signed in large gold letters within a gold linear frame, very lightly swamped at the muzzle, the bore cut with seven groves and fitted with decorated back-sight (the fore-sight blade removed), plain rounded lock, figured walnut full stock finely carved with a series of relief mouldings, including rococo scrollwork designs about the barrel tang, about the base of the comb of the butt and to the rear of the cheek-piece, and the butt with patch-box fitted with moulded sliding cover, with brass mounts terminating in simple linear mouldings throughout, comprising butt-plate and trigger-guard each of plain faceted form, bevelled solid side-plate, and two ramrod-pipes faceted en suite, and fitted with horn fore-end cap, mounts for a sling and iron ramrod (fore-end cap chipped on one side). 63.8cm; 25 1/8 in barrel
A 35-BORE BAVARIAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE BY JOHANN WOLF PETER, ÖTTINGEN, CIRCA 1725-30 with heavy swamped octagonal sighted barrel cut with the maker's brass-lined stamp, JP crowned, signed "Pierre a Oetting", cut with narrow wavy linear bands over the breech, the muzzle and the tang, numbered 1, and the bore rifled with eight narrow grooves, bevelled lock engraved with border ornament en suite with the barrel and framing engraved small motifs including an architectural landscape, carved moulded figured walnut full stock, the butt flattened along its underside, with raised cheek-piece and fitted with carved moulded cover for the patch-box, full brass mounts, the butt-plate and trigger-guard each engraved with Laub und Bandelwerk ornament, the latter with chiselled acanthus finials, the side-plate decorated in a similar fashion, pierced, cast in low relief and involving a pair of griffins supporting a cartouche, three faceted ramrod-pipes, vacant escutcheon with coronet, horn fore-end cap, and horn-tipped wooden ramrod (the stock repaired through the grip and cracked in front of the lock, the forward trigger-guard finial cracked in two places). 71.7cm; 28 ¼ in barrel
A 27-BORE BAVARIAN FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE BY JOHANN WOLF PETER IN ÖTTINGEN, EARLY 18TH CENTURY with swamped octagonal sighted barrel rifled with eight grooves, struck with a mark (obscured beneath the edge of the stock) and fitted with chiselled back-sight, bevelled lock vertically fluted towards the rear, sparsely engraved with leaf ornament and wavy linear borders, signed "I.W.Peter in Öttin" (sic.) and the pan-cover fitted with swing-out safety-steel, carved moulded figured walnut full stock, the butt with carved raised cheek-piece and fitted with sliding carved moulded patch-box cover, plain faceted full brass mounts including solid side-plate matching the outline of the lock, three ramrod-pipes, horn fore-end cap, and wooden ramrod (the stock with a repaired crack running diagonally through it immediately ahead of the butt, the ramrod incomplete). 85.4cm; 33 5/8 in barrel
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