Manufactured circa 1670s. Two-stage part-round and part-octagonal barrel with molded intersection and highly chiseled breech motif in the form of a grotesque mask, simple fore-sight, rounded lock plate with chiseled decorations at tail and maker’s mark BERGONZE IN BRESA, sculpted cock and frizzen, finely carved varnished walnut full-stock with high-relief carved rococo scrolls work throughout, iron mounts, pierced iron trigger-guard with grotesque face on trigger bow, pierced iron scroll designed counter plate with grotesque face, iron stirrup form buttcap embellished with scrolls and a grotesque face cap. With a brief description signed by Wallace Gusler, April 27, 2016 Giovanni Battista Bergonze (Bergone), see Der Nueue Stockel, page 88 Vicenzo Cominazzo, Gardone Val Trompia, see Der Neue Stockel, page 236 Provenance: Wallace Gusler Collection Dr. James Lavin Collection

Very fine, with some expected brown staining over barrel predominantly in the areas of the breech, cleaned overall, and evidence of light old re-varnish, some expected staining in pan.