Lot Essay
Cf. a Joseph Griffin gun of 1771 with a side-plate of identical design illustrated in Neal and Back, Messrs Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, plate 24d
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BY GRIFFIN & TOW, LONDON, LONDON SILVER HALLMARKS FOR 1775 AND 1777
Details
A Cased 14-Bore Silver-Mounted Flintlock Sporting Gun
By Griffin & Tow, London, London silver hallmarks for 1775 and 1777
With rebrowned two-stage twist barrel with silver spider fore-sight and turned girdle (ramrod-rib with two rust holes at the rear), the octagonal breech section signed in an engraved panel on the top flat, engraved with a band of beadwork at the rear, and with large gold-lined touch-hole, grooved tang finely engraved with flowers and foliage on a hatched ground, large signed flat lock finely engraved en suite and with roller, moulded border, and stepped tail (some pitting around the pan), finely figured walnut half-stock carved with shells in relief at the barrel tang (minor bruising, fore-stock chipped), cast and engraved silver mounts including trigger-guard with second pattern acorn finial, elaborately pierced rococo side-plate, and shaped butt-plate with London silver hallmarks for 1777, horn fore-end cap, and horn-tipped ramrod with worm: in associated relined and refitted mahogany case with accessories including silver-mounted horn powder-flask, the lid (cracked) with carrying handle of Chippendale form, and later fastening hooks, London and Tower private proof marks, barrel-forger's mark IG, silver maker's mark of John King
37in. (94cm.) barrel
By Griffin & Tow, London, London silver hallmarks for 1775 and 1777
With rebrowned two-stage twist barrel with silver spider fore-sight and turned girdle (ramrod-rib with two rust holes at the rear), the octagonal breech section signed in an engraved panel on the top flat, engraved with a band of beadwork at the rear, and with large gold-lined touch-hole, grooved tang finely engraved with flowers and foliage on a hatched ground, large signed flat lock finely engraved en suite and with roller, moulded border, and stepped tail (some pitting around the pan), finely figured walnut half-stock carved with shells in relief at the barrel tang (minor bruising, fore-stock chipped), cast and engraved silver mounts including trigger-guard with second pattern acorn finial, elaborately pierced rococo side-plate, and shaped butt-plate with London silver hallmarks for 1777, horn fore-end cap, and horn-tipped ramrod with worm: in associated relined and refitted mahogany case with accessories including silver-mounted horn powder-flask, the lid (cracked) with carrying handle of Chippendale form, and later fastening hooks, London and Tower private proof marks, barrel-forger's mark IG, silver maker's mark of John King
37in. (94cm.) barrel
Provenance
Charles Greener, and probably W.W. Greener
Literature
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers 1740-1790, p. 109, plate 377, and plate 205 (flask only)
Idem, Messrs Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, p. 87, plates 30a-b
Idem, Messrs Griffin & Tow and W. Bailes, p. 87, plates 30a-b
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.