Aged to perfection: a full bodied shotgun with curatorial assistant Christian Wellard

Published on September 13, 2024
Duration: 6:33

This video showcases a highly decorative side-by-side flintlock shotgun from approximately 1850, presented by Christian Wellard of the Royal Armouries. The piece is noted for its intricate gold and silver scrollwork, vine leaf, and grape motifs on both the barrels and woodwork, highlighting the craftsmanship of the era. The shotgun features advanced flintlock technology for its time, including a waterproof pan, platinum touch hole insert, roller frizzen, and a false breach.

Quick Summary

This 1850s side-by-side flintlock shotgun from the Royal Armouries showcases advanced features like waterproof pans, platinum touch holes, and roller frizzens. Its intricate gold and silver decoration, including vine leaves and grapes, highlights the craftsmanship of the era and suggests the owner was a person of significant means.

Chapters

  1. 00:09Introduction by Christian Wellard
  2. 00:15Overview of the Side-by-Side Flintlock Shotgun
  3. 00:46Flintlock Mechanism Features
  4. 01:17False Breach and Barrel Design
  5. 01:30Dating the Shotgun: Maker and Features
  6. 01:56Barrel Maker: Canaire
  7. 02:21Decorative Elements: Barrels
  8. 02:54Decorative Elements: Woodwork
  9. 03:38History and Owner Speculation
  10. 04:52Trigger Guard and Trigger Decoration
  11. 05:22Appreciation of the Piece
  12. 05:47Visiting the Royal Armouries

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key technological features of this 1850s flintlock shotgun?

This 1850s flintlock shotgun incorporates several advanced features for its time, including a waterproof pan on each lock, a platinum insert for the touch hole, a roller on the frizzen for a slicker action, and a false breach with a break-off barrel.

How is the age of this flintlock shotgun determined?

The approximate date of 1850 for this shotgun is determined by a combination of its technical features, such as the waterproof pan and roller frizzen, and the maker's mark 'Zo' on the locks, who was active in Marseille around that period.

What decorative elements are present on this ornate shotgun?

The shotgun is lavishly decorated with blued barrels featuring fluting, gold vine leaves, and scrollwork. The woodwork showcases silver scrollwork with vine leaves and gold grapes, complemented by foliate carving and grooved elements.

Who made the barrels of this decorative shotgun?

The barrels of this shotgun are identified as being made by 'Canaire', a Belgian barrel maker who was quite prolific and active around the 1850 period. This inscription appears on various guns from that era.

Related News

All News →

More General Videos You Might Like

More from Royal Armouries

View all →