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LOT 3297
Elaborate Miquelet Sporting Gun with Raised Relief Carved Stock, Relief Chiseled
LOT 3298
Fine Relief Chiseled, Engraved, Gold Inlaid, and Raised Relief Carved Spanish Miquelet Sporting
Gun - NSN, 16 gauge, 34 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., blue/gold finish, walnut stock. This stunning sporting gun was
Lock Components and Damascus Barrel with Straight Rifling - NSN, 75 cal., 34 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., brown/bright/blue finish, walnut stock. This very unusual sporting gun was most likely manufactured for a Spanish duke based on the coronet on the wrist escutcheon and the coat of arms themed side plate with two lions and an escutcheon with crescent moons flanking two plants. The “watered steel”/
etched Damascus barrel has straight rifling, a flare muzzle, Middle Eastern style chiseling and inlays, and the sunken
section of a now absent golden maker’s mark. The “patilla” style miquelet lock has a serrated frizzen, chiseled accents, and no visible markings. The blued steel furniture has decorative finials, masks, floral patterns, and hunting motifs. The nearly full-length stock has intricate panels of ornate basket weave type checkering, incised carved borders around the flats, a deep relief scene of two men fighting with swords on the right by a tower, and the left side has a deep relief scene with a man kneeling before a sultan or similar figure on a thrown while another man stands nearby. The ramrod has a horn tip.
CONDITION: Fine overall with distinct engraving and carving, nice twist patterns visible along the barrel along with gray and brown patina, mostly bright lock with some mild pitting, strong traces of blue finish remaining on the furniture, some pitting at the heel, minor dings and scratches on the otherwise fine stock, some nice figure, and generally mostly mild age and storage related wear overall. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M.
Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 6,500 - 11,000
the work of at least three Eibar artisans in the early 19th century. A “crown/BVS/TIN/DVI”
barrelmarker’s mark (Juan Estaban Bustindui) along with fleurs-de-lis, a cross, and a rampant lion in gold are on the breech section as well as a gold inlaid border and gold floral scroll
patterns. A “crown/AL/BER/DI” maker’s mark on the trigger guard. The lock maker’s mark appears to be “crown/
ECO/ABA.” The smoothbore barrel has a golden blade front sight with gold inlaid accents. The vent has a gold liner. The standing breech has a “dished” rear sight and floral engraving. The lock has engraved and chiseled scroll accents and borders, a gold lined pan, and a serrated frizzen. The furniture is iron and also has floral and scroll chiseling and engraving with some gilt backgrounds. The Madrid type stock is nearly full-length and has excellent molding, raised relief carved floral carving, and an attractive fluted butt. A “F.W. ROEBLING III/COLLECTION/TRENTON, N. J./5” tag accompanies this classic Spanish sporting gun.
CONDITION: Fine with 50% original blue finish, nearly all of the bright original gold
inlay remaining on the barrel and lock, most remaining on the furniture, proud
tang, crisp engraving, mild oxidation and pitting mainly on the barrel, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp carving, minor dings and scratches, a few minor flakes at the edges, and smooth finish. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The F.W. Roebling III Collection; The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
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