Beschreibung:

A 28 BORE AND A PAIR OF 20 BORE FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUNS FROM A LARGER GARNITURE ALMOST CERTAINLY MADE FOR PRINCE FREDERICK OF BADEN (1756-1817) BY DAIRE A CHARLEVILLE, CIRCA 1803-15 with minor differences, with blued swamped barrels formed with a long flat, decorated with bands of gold at the muzzles, fore-sights each on a gold sun burst, signed in gold towards the breech, the first with the crowned initial 'F' enclosed by the Order of the eagle, the pair with the arms of Baden beneath the crown of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire above a trophy-of-arms and all enriched with gold beadwork, border-engraved tangs (the first cracked through) incorporating the back-sights, rounded locks fitted with moulded cocks pierced with an additional forward scrolling bar, one lock with semi rainproof pan and water drain, figured walnut half-stocks carved with foliage about the rear ramrod-pipes, a bouquet behind the tangs and impressed with the numbers '20', '21', and '22', steel mounts comprising solid rounded side-plates, trigger-guards with baluster forward portions and leafy terminals, butt-plates of shaped outline, four ramrod-pipes and fore-end caps, silver escutcheons numbered '11', '13', and '14, and one retaining its baleen ramrod (the other two replaced) 93 cm; 36 5/8 in 90.3 cm; 35 5/8 in (3) The cypher 'F' and the collar of the Polish Order of the White Eagle identify one gun as being made for Prince Frederick of Baden. The arms of Baden on the other guns support this, though they are surmounted the crown of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. However, this may be an error on the part of the barrelsmith, corroborated by the rendition of the Baden arms being reversed. See footnote to lot 415. Daire is recorded in Charleville circa 1805.