Description
Superb double flintlock shotgun with revolving barrels, by Arault in Versailles. Superimposed barrels, round with band on top, with thunderbolts, entirely blued, decorated in gold with foliage scrolls at the sights, the number "LA" with flowers and hunting trophies at the thunderbolts. Silver sights. Rear lock signed "ARAULT A VERSAILLES" and flat-bodied hammer engraved with rocailles. Safety at the rear of the hammer. Each barrel has a bassinet and a battery. Safety hook. Iron trigger guard engraved with hunting trophies, releasing the rotation of the barrels by pressure. Large chased silver counterplate decorated with dogs attacking a wild boar. Chased silver buttplate with shell border engraved with trophies and rocaille-decorated ramrod loops. Walnut stock with flowers at the breech end (small crack). Circa 1760-1780. Length: 132 cm. A.B.E. (oxidation on barrels and trigger guard, mechanical accident on lock). Jacques Louis ARAULT, Master harquebusier at Versailles, harquebusier to the Comte d'Artois circa 1750-1780, he also worked with de Sainte. A rifle in the Bavarian National Museum (Munich). Related work: a number of similarly-designed rifles by other renowned harquebusiers of the second half of the 18th century, such as de Sainte and Lepage, can be found in private and public collections.
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Superb double flintlock shotgun with revolving barrels, by Arault in Versailles. Superimposed barrels, round with band on top, with thunderbolts, entirely blued, decorated in gold with foliage scrolls at the sights, the number "LA" with flowers and hunting trophies at the thunderbolts. Silver sights. Rear lock signed "ARAULT A VERSAILLES" and flat-bodied hammer engraved with rocailles. Safety at the rear of the hammer. Each barrel has a bassinet and a battery. Safety hook. Iron trigger guard engraved with hunting trophies, releasing the rotation of the barrels by pressure. Large chased silver counterplate decorated with dogs attacking a wild boar. Chased silver buttplate with shell border engraved with trophies and rocaille-decorated ramrod loops. Walnut stock with flowers at the breech end (small crack). Circa 1760-1780. Length: 132 cm. A.B.E. (oxidation on barrels and trigger guard, mechanical accident on lock). Jacques Louis ARAULT, Master harquebusier at Versailles, harquebusier to the Comte d'Artois circa 1750-1780, he also worked with de Sainte. A rifle in the Bavarian National Museum (Munich). Related work: a number of similarly-designed rifles by other renowned harquebusiers of the second half of the 18th century, such as de Sainte and Lepage, can be found in private and public collections.
