Product Details
FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF W. KEITH NEAL
A GOOD EARLY 7-BORE FLINTLOCK BALL GUN, UNSIGNED, no visible serial number,
German, circa 1700, with a substantial fine five stage 42 3/4in barrel of Turkish origin, swamped muzzle with silver dots inlaid to the flats, polygonal for most of its length and inlaid with silver loops, lines and circles, possibly originally set with gemstones, and cut with silver panels decorated with arabesques in relief and smaller panels originally bordered in gold, applied silver fore-sight, standing notch iron rearsight, plain top-tang, heavily curved and radiused lockplate engraved with flowing scrolls and foliage terminating in the heads of mythical beasts and inhabited by a winged cherub aiming a blow-pipe at a seated monkey, walnut three-quarter stock carved around the barrel tang and ramrod channel, iron furniture and original iron tipped ramrod
Provenance: W. Keith Neal collection Reference No. G24. Previously sold in Christies, 8th November 1995. Lot 81
William Keith Neal really needs no introduction to collectors of antique arms. Born in 1905 at Boxmoor, Hertfordshire to a Baptist minister, he showed a keen interest in ordnance from a remarkably early age and by the time he departed for prep' school had begun collecting in earnest. His acquisitions went on to form the largest and most important collection of British and European antique arms in the public domain; at its zenith it numbered almost 2,000 firearms. His interest was far broader than that of the fervent collector though; he had a thirst for knowledge and became a leading, perhaps The leading expert in his field. He was also a prolific writer and in conjunction with his friend Major David Black, wrote several reference works which are now regarded as the definitive on their subject.
Other Notes: The barrel of this arm is an exceptional example of the type captured at the relief of the siege of Vienna in 1683
Estimate £1,500-2,000