Product Details
P. BERETTA
A VERY FINE, GALEAZZI-ENGRAVED .458 W.M. 'MOD SSO EXPRESS' DOUBLE-TRIGGER OVER AND UNDER SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. C10573B, with extra .375 H&H MAGNUM barrels and a third pair of 12-bore shot barrels,
24 7/16in. nitro .458 W.M. barrels, cat no. 3787, dated 1987, matt sight-rib gold-inlaid '1' and with open sights and folding leaf sight, ramp-mounted bead fore-sight, sculpted fore-end with Deeley & Edge patent release catch gold-inlaid '1', gold-washed ejector work;
24 7/16in. nitro .375 H&H Magnum barrels, cat no. 3786, dated 1987, serial numbered C10573B with secondary number R00673B, matt sight-rib gold-inlaid '2' and with open sights and folding leaf sight, ramp-mounted bead fore-sight, sculpted fore-end with Deeley & Edge patent release catch gold-inlaid '2', gold-washed ejector work;
26 3/4in. (68cm) nitro 12-bore shot barrels, dated 1987, serial numbered C10573B with secondary number R00674B, raised tapered matt top-rib gold-inlaid '3', 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 3/4 choke, sculpted fore-end with Deeley & Edge patent release catch gold-inlaid '3', gold-washed ejector work;
bolstered action with hold-open toplever, safety fixed in the 'off' position, double rolled-edge triggerguard, the action and furniture finely carved in high relief with stylised scrolling acanthus and floral motifs, surrounding and invading exquisite bulino engraved game scenes and portraits, on the left side the lockplate with a savannah set scene of a pride of lions at rest under an umbrella thorn acacia and keeping a watchful eye on a colony of vultures in the middle distance, the action bar with a fine portrait of a solitary male lion, the right side with a grassland scene of cape buffalo charging a native man, with two hunters to the rear, the first reloading, the second taking aim, the action bar with a portrait of a rhino, the underside with a scrub forest scene of a great bull elephant leading a parade, the right side signed 'A. Galeazzi', bright finish, 14 5/8in. highly-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, floral and scroll-engraved steel pistolgrip-cap (with trap), the butt with hinged ammunition trap carved en suite, sling eyes, including 3/4in. rubber recoil pad, weight 10lb. 11oz. (.458 W.M.), 10lb. 13oz. (.375 H&H) and 7lb. 15oz. (12-bore shot), in its lightweight leather case with provision for all three sets of barrels
Other Notes: Angelo Galeazzi was born in Ospiltaletto (Brescia, Italy) in 1931, sadly passed away in 2012.
After a classic grammar school education, an early interest in drawing led to him working an apprenticeship under the master engraver and sculptor Francesco Medici.
His early career as an engraver began with Perazzi and then to Abbiatico and Salvinelli, though over the years he has executed work for most of the best Italian gunmakers, including Fabbri and Beretta. In every Beretta shop you will find a picture of him working on his 'Set of Four' - a unique quartet of guns which currently reside in the Museo Beretta in the United States.
Angelo Galeazzi has an instantly recognisable style of engraving - achieved purely with the use of the burin (a traditional engraving tool which is a chisel-like implement derived from a flake or blade, examples of which can be traced back in history to Palaeolithic times). The range of subject matter is extensive, from European game scenes to big game hunting to Western scenarios. He was also one of the first to introduce the idea of elaborate mythological compositions - especially scenes of Diana, goddess of hunting, as a subject for gun engraving. However it is marshland scenes involving duck and geese that he admitted to being his favourite subject.
His work encapsulates an understanding of depth and perspective that few can match and an obvious passion for the subject matter in hand is manifested in a meticulous attention to detail. His approach was almost painterly in his use of chiaroscuro gradations to bring realism and a three dimensional quality to the subject; and a careful adherence to anatomical correctness was always balanced by a poetic visualization of landscape atmosphere and movement. He used subtle differences in the very depth of the cuts made to mirror the emotions and movements depicted - finer cuts for tranquil scenes and deeper, slightly harsher cuts when dealing with harsher environments and scenarios, as demonstrated on this fine rifle
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Estimate £15,000-20,000
S1