Beschreibung:

Two Very Fine 18-Bore German Flintlock Fowling-Pieces By Hermann (Armand) Bongarde, Düsseldorf, circa 1720 Almost forming a pair, each with blued two-stage barrel in the Spanish manner retained by a pierced engraved gilt-brass band, brass spider fore-sight, and octagonal breech section with two gold-lined Madrid-style maker's stamps ( Neue Støckel 82, 83) and a further six small gold-lined decorative marks, gold-lined touch-hole, finely engraved tang, signed finely engraved burnished flat lock with moulded border and stepped tail, each with blued top jaw and screw, the latter with ring top, one lock with blued steel-spring, moulded highly figured field maple half-stock carved with acanthus foliage in relief, fluted Madrid-style butt, cast and chased gilt-brass mounts finely engraved with masks, monster-heads, strapwork and foliage, all on a punched ground, and with acanthus finials, one butt-plate engraved 'No 3', blued trigger and trigger-plate, fluted beaded gilt-brass fore-end cap, faceted, turned and beaded gilt-brass ramrod-pipes, and wooden ramrods, one with brass cap, the other with horn tip, both guns in exceptional original condition throughout (even in the bores) with nearly all their original finish 42¼in. (107.3cm.) barrels (2)