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LOT 3282
Attractive Well-Documented 1749 Dated Engraved I. Bulles Marked
European Half-Stock Flintlock Fowling Piece Inscribed to William Palling
of Brownshill as Pictured in “Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790” by Neal and
Back - NSN, 16 gauge, 48 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1749,
this attractive fowling piece is marked “I/BULLES” on the lockplate. This specific duck-gun is
pictured in “Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790” by Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back as pls. 460,
462, and 463. The buttplate is inscribed “WmPALLING/BROWNS HILl/1749”. William Palling
was a country squire from Gloucestershire who appears to have acquired his family’s Brownshill Court country home, which
had been built by his father (also William Palling) around 1665. The younger Palling is known for having assembled an impressive collection
of around eighty guns, pistols and blunderbusses at the home before his death in 1753, one of which is found in the following lot, while
others are a pair of impressive blunderbusses in the previous lot of this auction. Information on this collection can be found on p. 118-120 of
the previously mentioned book. The only other visible markings are a “P” and another partial proof on the upper left of the barrel at the breech,
possibly a barrel makers mark. The breech end of the barrel and lock both show some elegant, light flourishes of floral scroll engraving. The furniture is brass and shows some
light engraving throughout, and the pierced sideplate has a scimitar and floral motifs. Two brass ramrod pipes are fitted under the barrel along with a brass tipped ramrod. The
half-stock has a fleur-de-lis motif carved around the tang of the breech plug, has a brass forend tip and smooth buttplate, and displays fairly straight grain throughout.
CONDITION: Very good, the iron showing mostly a bright grey patina with some scattered light pitting and brown freckling, while the brass shows an attractively aged patina,
and the engraving overall remains mostly crisp. The revarnished wood is good with the molding around the lock chipped, a minor crack at the toe, and some scattered minor
dings and dents. Mechanically functions.
Provenance: The William Palling of Brownshill Collection; The William Keith Neal Collection; A Private Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3283
Attractive 1752 Dated Engraved T. Richards Brass Barrel Flintlock Fowling Piece
with Silver Wire Inlaid Stock Inscribed to William Palling of Brownshill, a Collection discussed in “Great
British Gunmakers 1740-1790” by Neal and Back - NSN, 12 gauge, 41 7/8 inch round bbl., bright/brass finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1752, the locks have “T./RICHARDS” signed at the center and light floral and border engraving.
There is a series of three illegible sunken proofs on the upper left of the brass barrel along with some flourishes of floral engraving
on the breech end. The buttplate is inscribed “WILLIAM PALLING ESQr/BROWNS HILL 1752”. William Palling was a country squire from
Gloucestershire who appears to have acquired his family’s Brownshill Court country home, which had been built by his father (also
William Palling) around 1665. The younger Palling is known for having assembled an impressive collection of around eighty guns, pistols
and blunderbusses at the home before his death in 1753, two of which are in the previous lots of this auction. Information on this collection can be found on p. 118-120 of the book
“Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790” by Neal and Back. The lock is fitted with a sliding safety, the barrel fitted with a German silver blade front sight, and a gutter type rear sight is
on the breech plug tang, which is also lightly engraved. A horn tipped ramrod is fitted in three pipes including the entry under the barrel. The stock has tear drop carved flats, some
clamshell carved molding around the breech plug tang, a large blank silver thumb plate, and some silver wire inlaid vines in the wrist. It is fitted with an engraved steel buttplate.
CONDITION: Good, the iron showing a grey patina with brown freckling and light pitting, while the brass shows an attractively aged patina, with mostly distinct engraving overall. The refinished wood is also
good with some spliced repairs, cracks, and dings. Apart from the half cock not engaging, mechanically functions.
Provenance: The William Palling of Brownshill Collection; A Private Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
As pictured & described in
Great British Gunmakers
1740-1790 by Neal
192 192