Beschreibung:

A VIENNESE SILVER-MOUNTED PERCUSSION SPORTING RIFLE BY MARCUS ZELNER
CIRCA 1730
A VIENNESE SILVER-MOUNTED PERCUSSION SPORTING RIFLE BY MARCUS ZELNER circa 1730 Converted from flintlock, with browned swamped octagonal barrel rifled with seven grooves, signed in gold and inlaid with gold strapwork over the breech and about the silver fore-sight, chiselled iron back-sight incorporating one folding leaf, percussion bolster with platinum plug, engraved barrel tang numbered '4', signed bevelled case-hardened lock engraved with a boar-shooting scene involving mounted sportsmen, figured walnut full stock finely carved with elaborate rococo scrollwork mouldings in low relief over its rear half (small cracks and repairs, the fore-end substantially chipped on the left side immediately forward of the lock), the butt inset with two silver plaques cast in low relief, one on the cheekpiece decorated with game, the other, on the toe, involving a human mask, silver-mounted patch-box cover engraved with a sportsman shooting a stag, full silver mounts cast and chased with designs of strapwork scrolls, including butt-plate involving the figure of Diana, solid side-plate decorated with a further stag-hunting scene, trigger-guard decorated with a sportsman, matching silver fore-end cap, pierced mantled escutcheon incorporating a coronet and engraved with owner's crest, set trigger, and ramrod with engraved silver tip. 28¼ i n (71.8cm) barrel