As explained in the included letter from the New York Public Library Reference Department to Colonel Walter F. Siegmund from 1953, the coat of arms on the wrist escutcheons and the case lid are for Freiherr (Baron) Christian von Zweibrücken (full name Christian Marianne Wilhelm August Franz Freiherr von Zweibrücken) who was born on December 18, 1783, served as a Bavarian cavalry general, and died in 1859. An earlier letter dated December 18, 1951 from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Siegmund indicates he previously believed the shotguns were made for Napoleon III himself, and that the MET was asking him to present them to the museum. Siegmund was then the general sales manager for Olin Industries which owned Winchester Repeating Arms Co. The shotguns are dated 1853 which is the second year of Napoleon III's reign as Emperor of the French. Louis-Julien Gastinne-Renette was a gunmaker for Napoleon III and the king of Spain and was among the best "de luxe" gunmakers in French history. Arms by Gastinne-Renette grace some of the finest art and museum galleries in the world today and earned international recognition in the 1840s to 1870s for beautiful exhibition pieces and fine arms like these shotguns. The shotguns have dark brown finish on the barrels, deep blue finish on the trigger guards and buttplates, and dark case colors on the locks and remaining components that contrasts beautifully with the gold inlaid decoration and markings throughout. The designs including bands at the muzzles of the Damascus barrels, "Gastinne Renette Arqer de S.M. L'empereur a Paris" in Gothic script on the ribs, flowing scrolls with leaves at the ends of some of the tendrils similar to the Germanic "black leaf" style, along with dogs, birds, and other game animals. The inlays are accented by more subtle scroll engraving, and the nicely figured European walnut stocks are similarly ornamented with incised carved scroll and floral accents around the gun's furniture such as floral finials at the end of the tangs and stock flats and also have very fine checkering on the wrists. The wrists have escutcheons with the baron's coat of arms in gold as noted above. The bottom of the barrels each have the "crown/GR" maker's marks and "GASTINNE RENETTE," and the bottom of the ribs have "45 - 1853- 954" (A) and "39 - 1853 -955" (B). Each shotgun includes a baleen ramrod with nickel-silver tip. The pair are contained within a very nice takedown case with the elaborate coat of arms noted above on the top of the lid, dual layer interior lined in royal blue velvet with scroll patterns and gold accents including "GASTINNE-RENETTE/ARQR DE S.M. l'Empereur/A PARIS" inside the lid. In addition to the shotguns, the case contains a variety of accessories for loading and maintaining the guns, including an engraved mold for approximately .68 caliber round balls, engraved patch cutter, a funnel, two leather shot pouches with shot, tools, patch worm, and more.

Exceptionally fine with bright gold inlays, crisp engraving, 90% plus original brown and blue finish, most of the original case colors remaining, strong original niter blue on the triggers and nipples, and generally only minor handling and storage related wear. The stock is very fine aside from some thin cracks in the wrist and a few scrapes and otherwise has glossy original finish, crisp carving and checkering, attractive figure, and light scratches and pressure marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is good and has moderate age and storage related wear including some cracks, and the accessories are mostly fine and generally have minor wear.

See "A."

Exceptionally fine with bright gold inlays, nice Damascus patterns, crisp engraving, 90% plus original finish, some minor oxidation on the buttplate, absent front sight bead, and generally minor handling and storage related wear including some scratches and wear at the muzzle. The stock is very fine and has glossy original finish, crisp carving and checkering, attractive figure, and some scattered minor scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. This is an beautiful pair of shotguns by one of Europe's finest mid-19th century gunmakers. It is no wonder the Metropolitan Museum of Art was once interested in acquiring these beautiful works of art.