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LOT 3277
Engraved and Gold Inlaid Flintlock Sporting Gun Likely Made
for a Woman or Youth by Brion of Paris - NSN, 28 gauge, 31 1/2 inch
part octagon bbl., blue/gold/bright finish,
walnut stock. Joseph Etienne Brion is identified
as working c. 1740-1747. This light sporting gun is
fairly small bore and has a short
12 inch length of pull suggesting
it was made for a woman
or youth. The smoothbore
octagonal to round barrel has
gold inlaid bands and scrollwork,
“BRION A PARIS” in gold on the top of the breech section, a gold lined
vent, and a blade front sight. The tang is bright and is engraved with a cornucopia, spear,
and quiver of arrows. The flat beveled lock has a lion passant regardant on the stepped tail,
scrollwork with a rooster armed with a sword on the cock, and “Brion A Paris” in ornate script beneath the faceted
priming pan. The bright steel mounts are engraved with scrollwork and classical motifs along with a detailed scene of a hound pursuing a boar on the
side plate. The figured stock has raised relief foliate carving that coordinates with the finials on the mounts, and nice molding. Notes from the Norman R. Blank
collection indicate the gun came from Saxe-Weimar and W. Keith Neal in 1963. It likely came from the collection of the Grand Dukes of Saxe-Weimar from Schloss Ettersburg
as did several other pieces in Blank’s collection.
CONDITION: Very fine with 80% plus original blue finish and bright gold inlays on the barrel, mostly bright lock
and mounts with some light patination, crisp engraving and markings, and generally fairly minor wear. The
refinished stock is good and has crisp carving, a chip at the forend tip on the right, some repairs,
and faint cracks. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,500
LOT 3276
Engraved, Gold Inlaid, and Relief Carved Manufacture Royale de Maubeuge
Double Barrel Flintlock Shotgun - NSN, 24 gauge, 36 1/4 inch solid rib bbl., fire blue/
gold/bright finish, walnut stock. This French 24 bore flintlock sporting
gun was produced as the Royal Arms Factory in
Maubeuge and features fire blued octagonal to round
barrels with gilt bands, burst pattern around the blade
front sight, “CANONS TORDUS” on top of the rib towards
the breech, and gilt martial designs
towards the breech ends. The breeches
are gilt and have sunken markings
that included “M” surrounded by three
fleurs-de-lis. The bright standing
breech features a grooved rear sight. The bright rounded locks are inscribed
“Manufre Royale/De Maubeuge” in ornate script. The half-length stock
has ornate floral and scroll carving, a carved wooden trigger guard,
and carved “buttplate” with horn “screwhead” inlays. The baleen ramrod has a horn tip. A document from Galerie
Fischer indicates this gun was acquired from the “collection of kingl. prince of Bayern, Germany” on June
22, 1960, and suggest it was manufactured c. 1765. A certificate for Norman Blank from F. Theodore
Dexter is also included.
CONDITION: Fine as partially refinished with most of the fire blue and gold finish remaining, mostly
bright locks, distinct engraving and carving, mild scratches and dings, and generally fairly minor wear
mostly from age and storage. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Collection of the Prince of Bayern; The Galerie Fischer; The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500