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LOT 499
“The Birth of Venus Purdey”: Gold Medal Concours d’Elegance
for Fine Guns Winning Magnificent Cased Factory Master Ken
Hunt Signed and Deep Relief Engraved James Purdey & Sons Self-
Opening Sidelock Ejector Double Barrel Shotgun Two Barrel Set
- Serial no. 27362, 12 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl., blue/coin finish, walnut
stock. This beautiful gun was originally ordered by Norman R. Blank in the
1960s and was not completed and delivered until the 1980s as detailed in
the included documentation. A letter from Master Engraver Ken C. Hunt
to Norman R. Blank dated October 16, 1986, is included indicating Blank
made payment to Hunt directly for the engraving and that work had
begun back in 1965 when Blank sent images of sculptures for the basis
of the work but then years passed without commencing the work. In that
interlude, Hunt’s skill only increased, and he wrote that the “results are
3 times the quality you would have had earlier. I think this is one of the
best works I have ever done and from comments of others, it makes me
feel quite proud.” He delivered the gun to Purdeys on July 14th, 1986, and
it was then finished and ultimately shipped to Blank. The certificate for
this gun being awarded the gold medal at the first Gold Medal Concours
d’Elegance for Fine Guns in 2001 is included.
The gun was completed with blued steel chopperlump barrels featuring
a single bead sight on the matted flat solid rib, “J. PURDEY & SONS.” and
“AUDLEY HOUSE, SOUTH AUDLEY STREET, LONDON, ENGLAND.” signed
on the left and right tubes respectively, correct London proof marks on
the flats, a band of engraving at the breech, and 3 inch chambers with
automatic ejectors. The chokes are marked as “60%”/”75%” on the left
and right respectively, indicating the percentage of shot on target when
firing at a 30 inch round at 40 yards, which when written out would be
equivalent to modified and full chokes. The barrels are fitted to the coin
finished Beesley patent self-opening side clipped sidelock action which
displays exceptionally well-executed deep relief engraving featuring
detailed classical scenes and details relating to the Greco-Roman
mythology of the sea, including Venus on a scallop shell drawn from the
famous painting “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli on the underside
and further scenes on each lock, and a young triton holding a banner with
the signature “J. PURDEY & SONS” on the front of each lock plate. The gun
is signed three times: “Sculpted by Ken C. Hunt” between the fences and
“K. C. HUNT” on the right lock plate at the lower edge of the scene, and
“K.C. HUNT 86” on the left lock plate at the lower edge for world renowned
English Master Engraver Ken Hunt who carried out the work on this
fantastic piece of firearms art.
The Birth of Venus The Birth of Venus
Norman R. Blank Collection
From the
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