Pierre Greverath (1750-1828) was court gunmaker to Count Franz Johann Wilhelm von Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck (1714-1775) briefly at the end of his life and remained court gunmaker to his heir, Prince Josef Salm (1773-1861). Their family had inhabited the impressive baroque chateau of Schloss Dyck since the mid-17th century and had an armory filled with fine sporting guns which had survived virtually intact since the mid-17th century. This particular gun was sold by Christie's in April 1992 (Lot 35, invoice included) in part I of the collection sale of The Armoury of Their Serene Highnesses the Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck. Also see "Die Waffensammlung in Schloss Dyck" by A. Hoff on p. 134. This elegant shotgun made in the Parisian fashion and dating to circa 1820 features gold embellishment and stunning silver furniture with relief Rococo motifs. The gold wrist escutcheon has the two addorsed salmon crest of Salm-Dyck. The bottom of the stock behind the absent rear sling stud also has the two addorsed salmon crest and the inventory number "31." The blued smoothbore barrels are round with side flats towards the breech section, a concave rib with a silver blade front sight, gold vent liners, and extensive Rococo style gold embellishment, including highly detailed thunderstorm motifs at the breech. The standing breech has a gilded dished rear sight. The bright locks are each signed "PIERRE/GREVERATH/A DYCK" and have frizzen spring rollers and frizzens that fit tightly over the flanged watertight edges of the priming pans. The furniture is silver with mainly floral designs along with a few hunting motifs. There are also silver and gold inlaid accents on the highly figured stock bordering each piece of the furniture. Provenance: The Armory of Schloss Dyck; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Very fine with crisp markings and designs, 90% plus original bright gold remaining, 85% plus of the dark fire blue along the barrel, mostly bright locks with minor patination, mix of mostly bright and lightly aged patina on the silver furniture and inlays, and only minor overall wear. The highly figured stock is also very fine and has a few tiny worm holes and checks in the figure along with some light scratches and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. This is certainly one of finest and most highly embellished flintlock double barrel shotguns we have seen and is sure to make a statement in any antique gun collection.