Beschreibung:

A 15-BORE GERMAN FLINTLOCK FOWLING-PIECE CIRCA 1720 Fitted with a Brescian barrel signed 'Gio. Batta. Dafino' and with sighting flat over almost its entire length engraved with scrolling foliage and with brass fore-sight, the breech engraved with symmetrical designs of scrollwork with foliate and monter-head terminals and chiselled with a grotesque mask in relief, border engraved tang, bevelled lock engraved with two sportsmen and their dogs in a landscape, stepped tail engraved with a running hind, blued pan, steel, top jaw and screw, moulded figured walnut half-stock carved with foliage in relief behind the barrel tang and at the cheek-piece, brass mounts engraved and chased in relief with symmetrical strapwork and foliage including pierced interlaced side-plate, the butt-plate incised 'No. 16' and engraved on the tang with a standing female figure, the pierced and engraved barrel band incorporating a circular medallion engraved with a female portrait bust, brass trigger-plate, octagonal brass ramrod-pipes, brass sling mounts, horn fore-end cap, original horn-tipped ramrod, and in fine condition throughout 56 11/16in. barrel