Product Details
EX W. KEITH NEAL: THWAIT & COOMBS, BATH
A FINE 10-BORE FLINTLOCK SILVER-MOUNTED SPORTING MUSKET, no visible serial number,
apparently a collaboration, London hallmarked for 1746, with swamped and browned 30in. barrel, the short raised sighting plane at breech relief carved with shells, tulips and borders terminating in a carved floral flourish and signed 'E, COOMBS, BATH', applied tear-drop silver fore-sight carved with a mask, engraved band and London proofs at breech together with the maker's stamp 'E.C.' below a star, gold lined touch-hole, engraved iron top-tang with moulded sighting groove and fixed with a special square socketed screw, flat bevel-edged lock with stepped and pointed tail and engraved with a banner below the gold-lined bridled pan 'THWAITS, BATH', the frizzen with special swan-necked articulated lever attached to the foot operating on a specially shaped spring, walnut handrail banana full-stock with florally carved apron around the top-tang, complex silver rococo escutcheon to wrist, large silver heel-plate fixed with special screws and struck with large hallmarks, the top-spur moulded in relief with floral swags and borders and engraved with a musical trophy, hallmarked trigger-guard bow and tang, the bow moulded with a shell in relief, the finial also formed from two carved silver shells, carved bulbous section around the silver ramrod throat, two further silver pipes and original horn ramrod with silver tip and worm end, complete with its W. Keith Neal collection medallion numbered 'G461'
Provenance: Previously sold Christies, London, Lot 52, 25th October 2001
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Estimate £2,500-3,500