France, Reign of Louis XVI (1774-1789). - Lot 72

France, Reign of Louis XVI (1774-1789). Superb two-barrel flintlock tabletop shotgun, signed "De Sainte Arquebusier Ordinaire du Roy à Versailles", circa . Cal. 14 mm. Burnished steel barrels with side panels at the thunder and round at the muzzle, chased with trophies of arms and gilded and punched cartouches, signed on the band in gold letters "De Sainte - Versailles". The silver barley grain sight, its base decorated with a gilded radiant sun. The breech tail is chased with friezes of foliage and foliage scrolls. Line-decorated steel round-bodied locks signed "De Sainte Arquebusier Ordinaire du Roy à Versailles", line-decorated swan-neck round-bodied hammers. Molded walnut stock with checkered barrel and black morocco cheek pad edged with flat braid of studded silver passementerie. Die-cut and line-decorated steel buttplate. Cut-out and line-decorated steel fittings. Palm rest trigger guard. The lower housing of the ramrod is chased with foliage. Fanson ramrod with blond horn tip. All screw heads are guilloché. Functional mechanism with two clear, play-free cocking notches. A rifle of remarkable craftsmanship, considering its dimensions, it is certainly a rifle made for a lady or a young man. In its original condition, never before seen in a collection. (Patina of age and wear, good condition). 121 cm (barrels 81 cm). De SAINTE Pierre, harquebusier in Paris and Versailles (1747/1788), received master harquebusier, crossbowman and artificer on October 10, 1747. Harquebusier to King Louis XVI in Versailles in 1763. His daughter, Léonie-Emilie, married Nicolas-Noël BOUTET in September 1788.