May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
This ornate circa 1760 fowler was made by noted gunsmith David Collumbell of London. He apprenticed under Garrett Johnson in 1712. He worked as a member of the Gunmaker's Company between 1734 and 1756. He is listed as working on Parliament Street in Westminster in 1763 and as a gunmaker to Ordnance in 1756; then the East India Company in 1761. The fowler itself has a two stage barrel with a hooked breech and a gold-lined touch hole. There are London view and proof marks on the left side, near the breech. The top flat is inscribed "COLLUMBELL LONDON" surrounded by an engraved decorative border. The flat lockplate is profusely engraved with scrolls around "COLLUMBELL" in the center, the tail is engraved with military motifs and features a sliding half-cock safety. Other features include a scalloped and engraved frizzen spring, a waterproof pan and an engraved swan-neck cock. The sideplate is iron and is chased with foliate and architectural motifs. The buttplate, wrist escutcheon, and triggerguard are also iron and are chased and engraved en suite. The trigger is decorated with cut-out scrolls. The ramrod ferrules are silver and are engraved with stiff-leaf bands and geometric designs. The full-length stock is of classic early Georgian form and features a symmetrical relief-carved shell design around the barrel tang and relief panels terminating in teardrops around the lock and sideplate cavities. Stock is profusely inlaid with silver wire designs including small silver flowers with scrolls on both sides of the wrist and in front of the triggerguard finial. The right side of the buttstock shows a large swagged canopy enclosing trophies of arms. The left side shows an elaborate naval design with a large anchor, cannon, flags, and polearms. CONDITION: Barrel shows some wear and retains a grey patina with some darker spots, front spider sight inlay is absent. Lock is in its original flintlock configuration and functions well, retaining a grey patina. Some chipping to frizzen face and top of frizzen shows a small chip. Mounts retain a spotted grey patina and show some wear. Ramrod is a probable replacement. Silver wire very good with some small pieces absent and a small loose strand on left side of wrist. Stock shows some wear and scattered marks, a few minor chips absent around lock and a minor crack on left side of forend. PROVENANCE: Previously sold as lot 413 at Sotheby's of Sussex July 26, 1995. This fowler was purchased together with another sporting gun bearing the crest of Vice-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth. The two guns were acquired from the same house and because of the naval motifs, it is most certainly a fowler made for Duckworth. Duckworth lived between 1748 and 1817, he entered the navy at the age of 11. One of the incidents he was involved in occurred in 1777 while he was the First Lieutenant on the H.M.S. Diamond while it was in Rhode Island. He was the officer responsible for a loaded cannon that was used in a salute that resulted in the death of five men aboard another ship. He was acquitted twice. In 1780 he was promoted to Captain and became flag-captain to the admiral of the West Indies squadron. He was knighted in 1801. Complete with copies of catalog description and photos, as well as realized prices. Also included is a biography of Sir John Thomas Duckworth. A very well-decorated early fowler.
Manufacturer
David Collumbell