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LOT 1238
Silver Mounted, Engraved, Gold Inlaid, and Relief Carved Miquelet Sporting Gun by Pedro Esteva, Barcelona - NSN, 16
gauge, 41 3/4 inch part octagon bbl., blue/gold/bright/silver finish, maple stock. In “Spanish Gun and Pistols” by W. Keith Neal
and other sources, Pedro Esteva is listed as active in Barcelona in 1680-1740. Neal also lists A. Pedro Esteva as active in 1750, and
some have listed Esteva as active c. 1746-1755. This classic Spanish smoothbore gun features a blued octagonal to round barrel
with a blade front sight with flush inlaid “spider” base, gold inlays mainly in the form of scrollwork, a decorative chiseled girdle at
the transition point with gilt backgrounds, grooved rear sight with scroll engraving and gilt backgrounds, gold vent, sunken gold
lined “crown/P. S/TE/VA” maker’s mark and “BA” (Barcelona town mark) mark on top at the breech, and “PEDRO ESTEVA” (upper
left), “EN BARZELONA” (top), and “ARMERO DEL REY” (upper right) in gold inlay. Despite the marking on this gun and others, he
is not known to have held the title of gunmaker to the king. The tang also features foliate engraving with gilt backgrounds, and
similar decoration extends to the lock which has Esteva’s sunken maker’s mark behind the priming pan, “PERA ESTEVA” inscribed
behind the cock, and “EN BARCELONA” toward the center. The mounts are silver and feature ornate scroll and shell patterns,
martial and hunting motifs, and a female bust on the heel extension possibly representing the queen. The beautifully figured
stock has fine molding, raised relief scroll and foliate carving, and the distinctive fluted “Madrid” form butt.