BY BOUTET, DIRECTEUR ARTISTE, MANUFAC.RE À VERSAILLES, NO. 77, CIRCA 1800

Details

A Fine 25-Bore French D.B. Flintlock Sporting Gun
By Boutet, Directeur Artiste, Manufac.re à Versailles, No. 77, circa 1800
With browned barrels signed in full on the rib and with punched, engraved, and gilt decoration at the muzzles, breeches, and around the silver fore-sight, involving flowers, foliage and trophies of arms,the breech sections octagonal then sixteen-sided, gold-lined touch-holes, finely engraved grooved tang, signed flat bevelled locks (left cock replaced) each with roller, long steel-spring, and gold-lined pan, and chiselled in relief with foliage on the tail, figured walnut half-stock (minor defects) carved in relief in the neo-classical taste, chequered grip and fore-end (chequering worn), chiselled iron mounts decorated in relief with neo-classical ornament including trigger-guard with urn finial, dark horn extension behind the trigger-guard carved in relief with further neo-classical ornament, gold escutcheon engraved with a crest and motto, single iron sling mount, faceted iron ramrod-pipes, and original ivory-tipped bone ramrod with worm (some minor pitting and surface rust, slight wear to gilding)
29¾in. (75.6cm.) barrels

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Nicolas-Noël Boutet (1761-1833) was involved in the arms factories at Versailles from their creation by decree in 1792. He was already a noted maker of armes de luxe having been court gunmaker to King Louis XVI, a position inherited from his father-in-law, and took the role of Directeur Artiste at Versailles. He was granted overall control of the Manufacture de Versailles in 1800 by Napoleon Bonaparte, and held that position until 1818 when the factories closed. He was joined by his son Pierre-Nicolas in 1804 - the signature on the arms changing from 'Boutet Directeur Artiste' to 'Boutet et Fils à Versailles'. Between 1818 and 1831 Boutet traded in Paris at 87 rue de Richelieu. He died in poverty in 1833, his career having survived six French political regimes

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