Spring 2025 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
May 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2025
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
SUPERBLY RELIEF ENGRAVED FLINTLOCK LONG FOWLER BY PAUL POULCE OF SEDAN, ARDENNES, FRANCE
01-26103
Cal. 16 Bore
S# NSN
Paul Poulce is a member of a gun making family working in North Central France from the 1680’s to about 1720. This beautifully decorated flintlock fowler has 47-1/2″ barrel with concave octagon breech section with flute carved transition to sixteen sided; then to round through two wedding bands, front with relief carving of leaves and a face. Octagonal section shows some light engraving of warrior and cherubs. Lock with rounded and slightly arched plate is fitted with inset round pan, non bridled friction frizzen and feather spring with bulbous finial. Round bodied serpentine cock mounts with bolt having head in the form of a grotesque face. Lockplate is deep relief chased with open flowing scrolls in front of and on the cock. A large Green Man face with two serpent tendrils of hair is on tail. Front of lock on chamfer around feather spring is engraved “PAVL POVLxx A SEDAN”. Lock internals show file decoration plain. Fruitwood stock extends to muzzle and features large dished right hand cheekpiece and is pinned to barrel. Beautifully full relief engraved iron mounts include large buttplate with devil’s face surrounded by scrolls at heel and long tang in the form of a serpent with arrow shaped tongue. Trigger plate and trigger have multi-pierced decoration of flowers and scrolls. Terminal curl of trigger is in the form of a sea monster. Trigger guard has Green Men on bow and front finial. Multi-pierced sideplate has central Green Man flanked by scrolling dogs heads, grotesque faces and sea monsters. A hickory ramrod with horn tip is held by two multi-beaded pipes with matching thimble with finial depicting a Green Man and full bodied imp. The quality of all this work borders on incredible considering the amount of work required and the tools available at the time.
PROVENANCE: from the renowned collection of quality sporting arms from Lewis Drake together with inventory of Lewis Drake Associates.
STATUS: ANTIQUE