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Manuel del Refugio Gonzales Flores (1833-1893) was a Mexican general and the 31st president of Mexico (1880-1884). He served in the Mexican-American War and Reform War. During the French Intervention in Mexico, he fought under General Porfirio Diaz. During his military career, he was wounded multiple times and held as a prisoner, including by the French, and lost his right arm in the Siege of Puebla in 1867. He was hand picked to succeed Diaz as president on December 1, 1880, and continued many of his policies and
was later succeeded by Diaz. During Gonzales’s presidency, he re-established relations with France, Britain, and Germany, and French bankers plaid an important role in the establishment of the Banco Nacional de Mexico. He also had Mexico adopt France’s metric system. In “Mexico at the World’s Fairs” by Mauricio Tenorio-Trillo, it is noted that “...in 1888 Manuel Flores, a member of the Mexican exhibition team, was commissioned to evaluate the French plans or an exhibition of social economy” and that “Mexico published its own catalog in French and Spanish” of the Exposition Universelle de Paris in 1889. Mexico had its own pavilion in the exposition, the Palacio Azteca, and also published in Paris the first encyclopedic survey of Mexican history for the event.
Jules Grevy (1807-1891) was President of the French Republic from 1879 to 1887 and would have been the French leader President Gonzales rekindled
ties with. Grevy is considered the first real republican President of France and actively worked to decrease the power of the executive and instead invested more powers in the French legislature unlike his predecessors. Prior to serving as president, he had a long political career, including as president of the National Assembly in the early 1870s.
CONDITION: Excellent overall. The metal surfaces have an attractive French gray finish with the barrels retaining all of the Damascus pattern. Some light pitting is limited to the barrels contained under the forearm. The stock is
fine with a couple minor cracks, a few hairline age cracks near the lock plates and some chipping along the edges of the forearm. The carving is crisp. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine with some wear of the lining and overall minor handling/storage marks. The lid has an added coat of protective varnish applied. This exhibition quality double barrel percussion shotgun by renowned Parisian manufacturer Le Page-Moutier identified as presented by the President of France to the President of Mexico is truly an exceptional work of art and a fascinating piece of diplomatic history.
Provenance: Mexican President Manuel Gonzales from French President Jules Grevy; The Harolds Club Museum of the Old West Collection; Butterfield & Butterfield; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 250,000 - 400,000