A RARE 22 BORE FLINTLOCK DOUBLE BARREL SPORTING GUN BY NICOLAS-NOEL BOUTET CIRCA 1805
A rare and fine original flintlock sporting gun by Boutet (many of his flintlocks were converted to percussion). This 22 bore double barrel original flintlock has smooth bore 32" fine Damascus twist barrels with central concave rib - barrels in excellent condition. Barrels are profusely decorated in gold including ‘BOUTET A’ and ‘VERSAILLES’. Spiders web gold decoration around blade front sight. Gold lined pans. All gold has an old shellac varnish for protection which could be carefully removed but remains untouched.
Makers mark of BOUTET within an oblong poincon (Neue Støckel 96 used 1805-1814) engraved on each barrel under the breech together with a group of four other poincons on each barrel including “LC” for barrel-maker Jean Nicolas Le Clerc (Neue Støckel 3741).
Fine border line all original working locks signed ‘Boutet Directeur Artiste’ and ‘Manufacture a Versailles’, swan neck cocks with roller frizzens. Excellent strong actions. All iron superb mounts in excellent condition comprising buttplate, scrolled triggerguard and ramrod pipes Including multi faceted front pipe - buttplate with engraved snake-haired Gorgon head, also quality urn, floral and scroll engraving including engraved screw heads. Figured Walnut stock with shaped chequered panels, finely carved fish scales to slender wrist, horn fore end. Wood to metal fit is excellent with minimal shrinkage.
There is no visible serial number on this gun which is not unusual as not all Boutets were numbered. A database of serial numbers and years of manufacture does not appear to exist for Boutet, the dating of this particular Boutet is approximated to circa 1805 but could be from 1798-1809. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a Boutet Rifle which they date circa.1800 which has number 55 on its side (Accession Number:1970.179.1a–q). Hallmarks on that rifle date the silver to the period 1798-1809. Other dating characteristics when comparing to other Boutet such as shown in Herbert J. Houze, “Versailles Civilian Presentations by Boutet”, in Man at Arms magazine, February 2014, p 29, give rise to dating evidence of manufacture between 1798-1809.
Original horn tipped ramrod made from rare Baleen with iron cleaning jag. Single barrel wedge. Original sling swivels.
47 1/4” overall.
Nicolas Noël Boutet (1761-1833) is without question the premier French gun-maker of all time. Throughout the French Revolution and Napoleonic period Boutet was the principal innovator and artist. His work is greatly undervalued when compared to other forms of art. Nicholas Noël Boutet was named Directeur-Artiste of the newly formed Versailles Arms Manufactory in 1792. The luxurious firearms started being produced soon after, around 1794, from his Versailles manufactory and were commissioned for presentation to Marshals of France as well as Royalty elsewhere in Europe and beyond. His presentation firearms and swords can be seen in many of the most famous institutions worldwide today such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Wallace Collection, Royal Armouries as well as Royal gunrooms and Palaces.
This is a rare all original flintlock Boutet. A fine investment which can be admired for his artistry in arms. It is superbly balanced, not overly ornate so aesthetically more in keeping with English taste rather than chiselled mounts and heavily carved stock more favoured on the continent. It points well as you would expect.
SOLD
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