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LOT 490
Exceptional Consecutive Pair of Factory Creative Art Signed and Fantasy Engraved
Ivo Fabbri Over/Under Shotguns with Case -A) Ivo Fabbri Over/Under Shotgun -
Serial no. E822, 12 gauge, 28 inch solid rib bbl., blue/brush bright finish, walnut stock. Ivo
Fabbri began his career in firearms along side one of the most well-known names in the
business, Daniele Perazzi. After they split, Perazzi went on to create arguably the world’s
finest sporting guns, and Fabbri pursued his dream to build the finest guns in the world,
with this pair being the embodiment of that goal. Fabbri only builds some 30 guns a year,
each is hand crafted from the ground up by some of Italy’s finest craftsmen, as such pairs
such as this are not commonly available for public sale.
Each gun was built with blued barrels featuring a single nickel bead sight on the file
cut matted flat solid rib which is inlaid at the breech with a gold “1” or “2”, “IVO FABBRI -
BRESCIA-” marked on the left of the upper barrel and “VACUUM ARC REMELTING STEEL”
on the right, a band of engraving at the breech, 1995 dated Italian proof marks, fixed
chokes, and 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. The barrels of each gun are fitted
to a gorgeous brush bright finished action which displays absolutely “Majestic” fantasy
engraving, bringing to mind many classic works of art from Europe’s renaissance. The
design consists of beautifully executed floral scroll engraving erupting from the mouth
of a reposed griffin on either lockplate with the negative space finely etched creating
a rich depth of field and continuing onto the underside which bears the markings “IVO
FABBRI/BRESCIA, ITALY” in gold inlay over a Maltese cross in a shield along with a pair of
angels emerging from either side of a bouquet in front of the triggerguard. The engraving
continues onto the toplever, triggerguard and both tangs, the upper of which is inlaid
with a gold “1” or “2”, and the lower which bears the serial number inlaid in gold. Both guns
are signed “Creative Art” for the world renowned engraving firm started by Italian master
engravers Giacomo Fausti, Ugo Talenti, Giovanni Steduto, Valerio Peli, and Armando Piardi.
While this gun was masterfully engraved by the artists at Creative Art, this engraving
theme has been used by various Italian engravers and makers, with one very similar
interpretation of the theme being pictured on page 545 of “Fucili D’Autore” by Nobli. The
guns feature a single non-selective trigger and a tang mounted automatic safety with
gold inlaid “SAFE” indicator. The guns are both fitted with an exceptionally attractive well-
figured and multi-point checkered forend with bright finished and engraved forend iron
including the push button release which is inlaid with a gold “1” or “2” as well as a round
knob pistol grip stock with the initials “ASW” inlaid in gold directly into the wood ahead of
the toe and a fully checkered bare butt.
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