A FINE 18 BORE CENTRAL EUROPEAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE, LATE 17TH CENTURY, AUSTRIAN OR BOHEMIAN
with octagonal swamped sighted barrel rifled with seven grooves, inlaid with brass lines about the fore-and back-sights, the breech inlaid with further brass scrolls and with a portrait bust, engraved breech tang, engraved lock decorated with a reclining classical warrior on an elaborate trophy-of-arms, fitted with internal wheel with low circular cover decorated with a garland of flowers, pierced dog and dog-spring bridle each decorated with a gaping serpent, sliding pan-cover and flash-guard, double set trigger, full stock moulded over the fore-end and finely carved with shell ornament and flowers about the tang (small cracks, losses and minor repairs), the stock profusely inlaid with engraved staghorn plaques enriched with leafy tendrils and pellets, a small oval plaque decorated with a trophy-of-music opposite the lock, the butt carved and inlaid en suite, with an oval filled with a further trophy-of-arms and a classical warrior on the cheek-piece, a further trophy enclosing the initials 'CT' above the patchbox, and the latter with sliding cover decorated with a central burrwood panel and trophies of music at each end, engraved iron trigger-guard shaped for the fingers and with leafy terminals, engraved staghorn ramrod-pipes and fore-end cap, horn butt-cap and early ramrod
75.0 cm; 29 1/2 in barrel
Provenance
Baron Armand van Zuylen (1838-96), sold Sotheby's 1st April 1980, lot 42