Expo number 179

 

Lock

With back-action system mounted on a rear plate, flat chamfered surfaces, engraved - against a pricked ground - with foliate scrolls, some of which are `broken', involving a coat of arms (see Remarks) and a dragon's head, and with a wide transverse moulding across the rail; front half of plate replaced by three long, separate tapering chambers, each forming a continuation of the barrel, fitted with its proper pan and frizzle, clustered in a triangle and revolving against a large oval bearing-plate, almost circular cock-jaws, rounded pans, almost oval frizzles and frizzle-springs consisting of one long leg only; the frontal bearing-plate shaped as the contour of the cluster of chambers and with apertures at the front, enabling the two disengaged chambers to be loaded; mechanism with unsupported tumbler.

 

Barrel

With octagonal breech changing to a circular section after a wide moulding, brass bead front-sight on an oval base.

 

Stock

In two parts, separated by the cluster of chambers, the separation point marked by an iron plate, carved in relief with borders, comprising a fore-end with sharply outlined bulbous protrusions by the ramrod entry, and a butt with raised faces opposite the lock and framing the breech-strap, and a rather full `inflated' butt with a convex comb and a raised face underneath running until the bearing-plate.

 

Mounts

Iron, comprising: one moulded ramrod-pipe serving simultaneously as entry, flat sideplate consisting of pierced foliate scrolls, trigger with pierced extension at the rear, and the slot from which it protrudes incorporated in a second (false) breech-strap underneath the butt, rounded triggerguard with engraved striations on the bow, which is in two separate parts, the front one of which must be drawn backwards in order to release the catch blocking the mechanism by which the cluster of chambers can be rotated, and flat butt-plate with rounded heel and with a baluster-shaped tang terminating in a large acanthus leaf short iron-tipped ramrod.

 

Remarks

(MAKER) Van der Sloot (op.cit.) links this gun with the Bohemian count Frans Antoni von Sporck, who had several firearms of this system made by his own gunmaker. Hoff (op. cit.), elaborating on the system, mentions and illustrates a pair of Carlsbad pistols of this pattern, calling it the `System von Sporck'. This system, however, was internationally well-known enough to have been made in Holland, too, especially with regard to the interest Dutch gunmakers had for special technical constructions, of which the large group of Dutch turnover guns are a good example.

(ARMORIAL DEVICE) The coat of arms on the lockplate cannot be identified.(1)

(CF.) Cf. Cat. 541. The decoration on the knuckleguard, stated by the sale catalogue to comprise trailing olive branches, was identified by Mr J. B. Kist of the Rijksmuseum as orange blossom, with the so-called `Apples of Orange'. This is no doubt an affectionate allusion to the Stadtholder, William III, which can be compared with the Orangist slogans on a group of small-swords commemorating the entry of the Stadtholder into the city of Amsterdam in 1672, preserved in the town hall of Enkhuizen (cf. Puype). The above description is based on the entry in the sale catalogue since the sword arrived too late in the collection of Mr Visser to be adequately analysed and described for his catalogue, nor to be included in the indices.

This small-sword is an example of the fakers art. The fake grip cast in gold and the assay marks are cast in one with the shell. It has been to late to delete this entry from the catalogue.

 

Literature

-Christie's London (27 March 1996) (2) Lot 203

-Norman & Barne (1980) p. 278 & Pl. III

-Puype (1981) p. 48, fig. 40

 

 

1          It consists of a shield with helmets, trappings and mantling: Quarterly, the 1st and 4th with a double-headed eagle, the 2nd and 3rd with a lion rampant holding a vertical flagstaff central shield charged with a male head in a turban(?). The whole is crested with five tilting helmets, trapped with (from left to right) a plume, lion rampant (in same position as on the 3rd ordinary), double-headed eagle, torso of the same man as in the central shield (wearing a jacket with horizontal embroidery on the right breast), and a bras armé (with straight sword). Mantling of scrolled acanthus leaves.

2          The full title of the catalogue is: Fine Antique Arms and Armour including the A.N. Kennard Collection: the property of Julian Salmond, Esq. and from various sources.