1299 - Decorative Turkish Silver Shotgun, Ottoman School. 18th Century.

Decorative Turkish Silver Shotgun, Ottoman School. 18th Century. A decorative, unused weapon. With gold inlays, ivory appliqués, and a carved wooden grip. Dimensions: height 159 cm x width 20 cm x depth 6 cm. This matchlock shotgun features rich engraved and embossed floral decoration, particularly prominent on the barrel and buttplate, crafted in ivory with radial and openwork motifs. The intricately crafted flintlock mechanism is set within an ornate structure in the Eastern tradition. The gold inlays reveal a refined technique typical of Ottoman-influenced workshops, where aesthetics often went beyond simple military purpose. This piece combines military, ceremonial, and artistic value, in keeping with the prestige weapons carried by warrior elites in North Africa and the Middle East. A notable example of the fusion of function and adornment in 18th-century weaponry.