GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
SUPERB AND EXTREMELY RARE IVORY DECORATED GERMAN FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOL STOCKED BY THE GREAT 17th CENTURY MASTER CARVER JOHANN MICHAEL MAUCHER OF SWABISCHE-GMUND CIRCA 1680. MAUCHER PRESENTATION PISTOL NSN 28 BORE IVORY Cal. 28 bore. This magnificent work of art flintlock holster pistol features a two-stage barrel with plain tang, a ringed muzzle, and a breech with longitudinal ribs. The convex shaped lock plate is finely engraved with scrolling foliage. The steel triggerguard is fluted, as is the baluster steel ramrod pipe. Contrasting with the relatively austere yet elegant metal of the lock and barrel is the splendid dark walnut stock, which is masterfully carved in high relief, almost in the round, in the style identified as uniquely Maucher's, transforming a firearm into a work of art. The relief carving depicts a triton and a mermaid. The butt is carved with fruit, berries, and foliage and a mounted horseman dressed in 17th century costume blowing a trumpet. The fore-stock and sideplate are inset with the wonderfully relief carved ivory plaques that are Maucher's signature work and depict scrolls and scenes of the chase taken from the engraved designs of Jost Amman, the famous 16th century German artist. The spurred ivory pommel is carved in the round as a warrior's head after the Roman antique in the style known as 'all'antica' above a band of medallions and grotesque masks. The helmet itself is adorned on each side of the bowl with a double-headed eagle surmounted by a crown. Pistol is 18 and ¼ inches overall (46.4cm) PROVENANCE: Metropolitan Museum Curator Emeritus, Stuart W. Phyrr has identified this pistol as being one of a pair, the mate to it being in the Odescalchi Collection in Rome and mentioned in an exhibition catalog. The Italian government was unsuccessful in acquiring it in 2002. Johann Michael Maucher worked in Schwabisch-Gmund until 1688 when he moved to Augsburg. Maucher presented a decorated gun to Emperor Leopold I in 1688. Altogether there are approximately 30 known Maucher firearms, nearly all in museums, almost all rifles, with the largest group in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich. There are two rifles in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There are only three Maucher pistols in America, a pair formerly in the Joseph Kindig Jr. Collection, now in the Herbert G. Ratner Jr. Collection and the present pistol. Maucher firearms were created as princely gifts for a royal Kuntskammer (art chamber). Given that the United States has banned the importation of all ivory including antiques, this is almost certainly the only opportunity for a collector or institution to acquire an ivory decorated Johann Michael Maucher firearm. There have been two other ivory Maucher guns at auction, both sold by Christie's. A rifle from the armoury of Schloss Dyck sold in April of 1992 as lot 169 for 137,500 pounds and another from Albert von Rothschild sold on July 8th 1999 as lot 84 for 106,000 pounds. This is undoubtedly the most artistically significant single flintlock pistol to be offered at auction in decades and represents a rare if not unique chance to acquire the rarest and best. CONDITION: Steel surfaces are cleaned with no original finish. Engraving remains quite crisp for its age. Wood stock and carving remain very crisp overall, with no significant repairs and excellent detail. The "certifiable antique elephant ivory" plaques are excellent and the magnificent ivory pommel is pristine. The pistol even retains the original iron tipped ramrod. Note that in Christie's description of 16 December 2002 mention is made of one panel as a possible replacement "(one later?)". Neither Christie's expert nor we are certain, though if one panel is later it was replaced during the period and no doubt certifiable as antique elephant ivory. 49867-2 MRZ (50,000-70,000)