Page 187 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1385
Fine Parisian Double Barrel Flintlock Sporting Gun with Gilt Accents and Raised Relief Carving by Croizier - NSN, 24 gauge, 27 3/4 inch solid rib bbl., blue/gold/bright finish, walnut stock. This c. 1760s-1770s double barrel sporting gun by Jean-Baptiste Croizier features three gold bands at the muzzles, golden clouds and rays around the blade front sight, “CROIZIER A PARIS” on the rib in the breech section surrounded by gold borders and designs mainly consisting of martial trophies, a sunken mark on each barrel at the breech (one appears to be LeClerc’s barrel maker’s mark), dished rear sight with burst pattern
engraving on the standing breech
which also has beaded and rope borders, mostly floral and scroll designs
on the other bright metal furniture, “CROIZIER APARIS/COUR NEUVE DU PALAIS” signed on each lock, raised floral and scroll carving on the stock, a pinned red leather cheek pad on the comb, and sling swivels on the
middle ramrod pipe and bottom of the butt. Ramrod absent. CONDITION: Fine with 60% plus of the original fire blue finish and the vast
majority of the original gold remaining on the barrels, some thinning and fading to gray and brown patina mainly near the muzzles and breech end, mostly bright furniture with distinct designs and some silver-gray patina, light pitting on the pans and frizzens, and generally light overall wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp relief carving, a repaired break in the wrist, some minor cracks, slight edge loss, and occasional light dings. Mechanically fine.
standing breech face. The stock also has “1312” inside the forend. An “I L C” sunken barrel maker’s mark for Jean LeClerc is on the left barrel at the breech. It has “Le Page A Paris” (left) and “Arqer de l’Empereur” (right) in gold inlay on the barrels. The silver hallmarks on the buttplate and trigger guard include the Silversmiths Association mark created in 1793 (Greek woman’s
head with “P” on the left) and hallmarks from 1809-1819 (Minerva’s head facing
right for the guarantee and a cockerel and 1 for 950/1000 silver). The silversmith
maker’s mark has not been identified. The silver ramrod pipes, trigger guard, and buttplate feature primarily delicate floral patterns. In addition to the noted gold markings, the barrels also have gold designs at the muzzles and front sight and the breech. The latter have LeClerc’s maker’s mark. The standing breech has a burst pattern in the dished rear sight and floral and border engraving. The locks have sunken golden “LEPAGE” (right) and “A PARIS” (left) maker’s marks surrounded by gold laurels and feature floral and “scooped” engraving. The stock has panels of checkering on the forend and wrist, raised oak leaf carving on the forend, additional floral patterns at the breech and trigger guard finial, a fantastic lion’s head on the bottom of the wrist, and a floral and design at the rear of the nicely sculpted cheek rest. CONDITION: Fine with most of the bright original gold remaining, attractive dark aged patina on the silver furniture, a smoky gray-brown patina on the locks, mottled dark brown patina along the barrels, and mild overall wear including some spots of slight oxidation/pitting. The stock is very fine and has nice figure, a smooth oiled finish, crisp checkering and carving and some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. This is a lovely Napoleonic era French shotgun from one of France’s most famous gunmakers. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 1386
Elegant Silver Mounted, Gold Accented, Engraved, and Figural Relief Carved French Double Barrel Percussion Conversion Shotgun by LePage - Serial no. 1312, 20 gauge, 32 1/8 inch solid rib bbl., gold/silver/brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Jean LePage ran the famous LePage family gunshop established in Paris in 1717 from 1779 to 1822. This shotgun from circa 1810 was originally manufactured as a flintlock during the Napoleonic era and was likely converted to percussion in the 1820s-1830s. The underside of the barrels has “N 1312” (right) and “A rkings are repeated on the
1810” (left), and “N 1312” is repeated on the breech hooks, and both ma
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