Product Details
I. V. FUNK & SON, SUHL
AN EXTREMELY FINE CASED 16-BORE EXHIBITION GRADE DOUBLE-BARRELLED PERCUSSION SPORTING GUN WITH SPARE CAPE BARRELS, serial no 5911
circa 1855, with fine etched damascus 34in barrels patterned in alternating bands of radial etching and twists, the alternate etched damascus top-rib signed in gold inlay 'I. VALT. FUNK & SOHNE IN SUHL' within a field of two-colour gold and silver scrolls and dot devices, similar fields of inlay extending back from foresight bead, fancy border-lined muzzles, gold lined breech with a gold inlayed engraving of an eagle in a woodland setting, starburst engraved plugs, relief scroll engraved long top-tang with a silver inlaid stag in a woodland setting near the breech and an additional gold inlaid doe in a similar setting on the tang flat, slightly curved back-action locks with gold and silver fancy border and scroll engraving surrounding an inlaid game scene featuring a silver inlaid hunting dog and gold pheasants on the left lock plate and gold and silver inlaid dogs chasing a silver inlaid boar on the right, finely scroll and gold inlaid engraved hammers with concentric carving around the spindle screws and mythical pierced serpents climbing the rear of the hammers, highly figured walnut half-stock with fancy rococco scroll bordered chequering at the wrist, engraved steel, fancy hinged patch-box to the right hand side of stock, inlaid in silver with a hunter working his gold inlaid dog, fancy scroll engraved steel heel-plate with detail picked out in gold, fancy scrolled horn trigger guard tang cover, fancy scrolled trigger guard with the bow inlaid en-suite with the patch-box, long extended gold and silver inlayed and scroll engraved finial and en-suite ramrod throat, thimbles in alternating patterns of damascus, large iron sling-swivels,TOGETHER WITH an en-suite set of 22-bore octagonal cape barrels, the whole contained in a presentation walnut case with compartments in the continental style, lined in green baize with a full compliment of period accessories (case later, stock refinished, some pitting to iron surfaces around nipples)
Provenance: The vendor kindly informs us that family tradition states that this impressive garniture was given as a wedding present to a member of the von Schackendorf family (based in Schleswig-Holstein) by Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia.
Other Notes: Valentin Funk, born 1775, was the founder of two gunmaking companies to bear his family name. He started making fine sporting guns and rifles in 1820 before taking his son into the Suhl based business. His nephew, Christoph, was also a maker of repute and built guns until circa 1873.
Estimate £10,000-15,000