This rare circa 1720 pair of sporting guns was the work of Johann Jacob Behr who is recorded as having worked in Wurzburg, Maastricht and Liege and are identified as having formed part of the Collections of the Grand Dukes of Saxe-Weimar held at Schloss Ettersburg. Featuring flat beveled enclosed locks which serve as an uninterrupted canvas for the elaborate scroll engraving inhabited by monster-heads which cover the lock-plates, the engraving is against stippled backgrounds and enclosed by ornate borders. The locks are each signed "I.I. BEHR" on the lower edges and have foliate finials on the tails and coordinating engraving on the cocks and frizzens. The two-stage smoothbore blued barrels have brass blade front sights with flush inlaid "spider" bases, turned girdles at the transition points, and burnished steel tangs with further scroll engraving en suite with the locks. The half-stocks have horn forearm caps, raised moldings and floral carving, fluted cheekpieces with scroll accents, and cast and chased gilt brass mounts with a variety of foliate, shell and mask designs along with pierced scroll pattern side-plates each inhabited by a classical figure and an eagle. Sling swivels are fitted to the forearms and to the front of the trigger-guards. Includes an undated certificate of authenticity signed by F. Theodore Dexter for Norman R. Blank.

Very fine with 60% plus of the original blued finish remaining on the barrel mixed with areas of gray and brown patina, bright lock and barrel tang, strong gilt finish and aged patina on the mounts, distinct designs throughout, and minor overall wear from age. The stock is very fine and has distinct molding and carving, a crack on the left at the front lock screw, some material absent by the side-plate, and minor overall wear. Mechanically excellent.

See "A." Provenance: The Grand Dukes of Saxe-Weimar; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Extremely fine with 70% of the original fire blue remaining on the barrel, gray patina to the right of the breech, bright lock and barrel tang, strong gilt finish and aged patina to the mounts, distinct designs throughout, and minor overall wear from age. The stock is very fine and has distinct molding and carving, age related minor dings and scratches throughout, and old spliced repairs to the right side of the butt, possibly from manufacture. Mechanically excellent. This is a very rare pair of sporting guns with distinctive enclosed locks. True pairs of early sporting guns, let alone very fine pairs from sought-after makers such as Johann Jacob Behr, are very hard to find.