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LOT 3269
Documented Early 18th Century Engraved Philippe De Sellier Wender Flintlock Sporting Gun
from the Armoury of the Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck - NSN, 21 gauge, 43 3/4 inch part octagon
bbl., brown/bright finish, walnut stock. This attractive swivel breech sporting gun from c. 1720 by Philippe De
Sellier of Liege (active c. 1676-1740) features multi-stage barrels with rounded blade front sights, girdles at the transition
points, “-PHILIPPE-DE-SELIER-” signed on the breech sections, and three inset “crown/PS” maker’s marks on each barrel at the breech (see “Der Neue Stockel” 4372). Plates with the pans, frizzens, and frizzen springs are fitted for each barrel, and the gun is fired by a shared back action lock inscribed “PHILIPPE DE SELLIER.” These components along with the breech plates and upper tang have scroll and border engraving. A trigger in the front of the trigger guard releases the barrels. The furniture is brass and features highly detailed designs incorporating masks, busts, scrolls, and floral patterns. The side plate and wrist escutcheon are pierced. There are full length walnut panels running along the sides of the barrel group with the ramrod held on one side and a sling swivel on the other a robust walnut buttstock, and the wood has some raised details at the flats and upper tang, nice molding along the bottom, a hole for a now absent rear swivel, and a pair a royal inventory mark from the Salm family of a pair of adorsed salmon over “34.” This fine sporting arm was part of the armory of the Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck. In 1720, the line were counts. They were raised to the status of princes in 1816. Francis Ernest was count of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck in 1684-1727 followed by Augustus Eugene Bernard in 1727-1767. See G. de Vries and B.J. Martens, “The Visser Collection,” Vol. 1, Part 4, Cat. No. 946, pp. 600-601. CONDITION: Very good with an old applied brown finish on the barrels blended with smooth brown patina, silver gray on the other iron, some minor oxidation and pitting, aged patina on the furniture, a repair in the trigger guard tang, and crisp details throughout. The wood is also very good and has spliced repairs in the forend panels and scattered minor dings. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Armoury of the Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck (Christie’s 1992); The Albert Littler Collection (Christie’s 2002); The H.L. Visser Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
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LOT 3270 Wheellock Sporting Rifle with Engraved Stock Inlays - NSN, 69 cal., 30 1/4 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, hardwood stock. This wheellock rifle was likely built
from mixed antique components in the Victorian era and has an eight-groove rifled, swamped barrel with blade and notch sights, a long sight groove, “O” (upper left) and “H” (upper right) markings, and short tang. The lock has a fleur-de-lis style marking. It has adjustable double set triggers enclosed by an extended finger groove trigger guard. The stock has some inlaid borders and floral, scroll, and martial motif engraved inlays. A wing-nut style spanner is included. CONDITION: Good with gray and brown patina, mild oxidation and pitting, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also good and has some insect holes, a splice at the heel on the left, some small cracks and repairs, and general age and storage related wear. Mechanically untested. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3271
Incredibly Ornate Highly Embellished Turkish/Caucasian Miquelet Rifle with Damascene Lock and Barrel - NSN, 60 cal., 29 1/4 inch octagon bbl., gold finish, maple stock. Long guns like this were popular within the mountainous Caucasus region at the border of the Russia Empire and the Ottoman Empire and the border of Europe and Asia. The rifled has a low blade front sight, integral peep sight in the raised breech plate, highly patterned Damascus with some raised and relief designs, damascene patterns, and coordinating patterns on the miquelet lock. It has a small “onion” shaped trigger, scroll pattern barrel bands, golden and jade colored stock inlays, and a variety of metal and leather panels on the butt. Ramrod absent. CONDITION: Very good with more than half of the original gold damascene patterns remaining, mostly dark brown patina and light pitting on the balance, nice flame figure along the stock, aged inlays, and moderate overall wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000