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LOT 1316
Engraved and Relief Carved Late 17th Century French Wender Double Barrel Flintlock Sporting Gun by Thuraine of
Paris - NSN, 28 gauge, 35 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut stock. This fine Parisian turnover sporting gun was made circa 1685 and restocked and partially remounted during the 18th century. It features two-
stage octagonal to round smoothbore barrels each with brass blade front sight, elaborate engraving and chisel work with floral scroll patterns inhabited by a mask and a figure, “THURAINE
A PARIS” signed on the sighting flat, and blued finish. Rounded back-action lock engraved and chiseled in low relief with scrollwork and a figure holding a ribbon signed “THURAINE A PARIS”, with scroll
engraved individual priming-pan and frizzen assemblies for each barrel. Barrel release
catch chiseled in the round with a bestial
head. Later engraved trigger-guard and heel-plate, the latter with the serpent finial reminiscent of Claude Simonin (see Stephen V. Granscay, “Master French Gunsmiths’ Designs”, p. 76) and later figured walnut stock. The wrist escutcheon is silver with a coronet and masks. With a wooden ramrod with bone tip. This gun was purchased from W. Keith Neal in February 1962 by Norman R. Blank.
CONDITION: Fine with mostly gray patina on the barrels, bright lock and mounts, wear to high points of chiseled decoration, and rubbed engraved decoration on heel-plate. The refinished wood is very good and has attractive figure, carved ornamentation worn, scattered handling marks overall, some losses around the mounts and mechanism inletting, and a hole by the trigger-guard finial. Mechanically fine. A rare opportunity to get your hands on a very attractive French flintlock swivel breech sporting gun. Provenance: J.F. Hayward; The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 12,000
A PARIS” signed in raised gilt letters, a rounded silver blade front sight, and a burnished steel tang with lined borders and foliate engraving. The rounded lock is signed “LES LA ROCHE A PARIS AUX GALLERIES DU LOUVRE” along the bottom edge and finely engraved with a sporting trophy on the tail. The silver
mounts are cast and chased with rococo ornament and are struck with
wear. Mechanically fine. This beautiful sporting gun from Jean-Baptiste and Jean le Roche perfectly exemplifies why they received patronage from King Louis XV.
Provenance: W. Keith Neal in November 1959; The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 8,000 - 13,000
250
LOT 1317
Ornate Gold Inlaid, Engraved, Silver Mounted,
and Relief Carved Single Barrel Flintlock Sporting Gun by
Les La Roche Aux Galleries a Paris - NSN, 16 gauge, 41 5/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/gold/bright/silver finish, walnut stock. Jean-Baptiste la
Roche was gunmaker to Louis XV and received lodgings in the Louvre in 1743 and was later joined by his son Jean who succeeded him in 1763. Together they
signed their guns with the plural “Les La Roche.” Several examples of their work can be found within major institutional collections in Europe. Dating to the mid-18th century, this fine
example has a slender smoothbore barrel with blued finish, gold inlays and highlighted accents including a bursting grenade motif on top at the breech, gilded fluting, “LES LA ROCHE AUX GALLERIES
Parisian hallmarks. The well figured full stock has moldings and foliate scroll carving, a green leather comb-pad, and silver wire inlays framing the side-plate. The ramrod has a silver tip. It is accompanied by an undated certificate of authenticity from F. Theodore Dexter for Norman R. Blank. Norman R. Blank acquired this gun from W. Keith Neal in November 1959.
CONDITION: Fine with much original gold-inlaid ornament remaining, aged patina to the silver mounts with some rubbing to high points, clear signatures and engraving, 40% of the original blue remaining on the barrel, pitting at the vent, silver-gray patina and some minor staining on the lock, and age related overall wear. The otherwise fine stock has repairs to the forearm, minor cracks and handling marks throughout, and mostly crisp relief carving. The cheek pad has minor age and storage related