Fancy French Blunderbuss, c.1750

Object Name/Title

Fancy French Blunderbuss, c.1750

Catalog Number

111-0061

Model Designation

Luxury Blunderbuss

Physical Description

A luxuriously decorated blunderbuss featuring extensive silver and gold relief work throughout. The weapon exemplifies high-end civilian firearms of the mid-18th century, with elaborate decorative motifs combining military themes and ornamental designs. The piece demonstrates the sophisticated metalworking capabilities of the Saint-Étienne gunmaking industry during this period.

Firearm Type

Blunderbuss

Maker, Manufacturer, or Workshop

Louis Lamotte, Saint-Étienne, France

Date of Manufacture

circa 1750

Action Type

Flintlock

Loading Method

Muzzle-loading

Caliber/Gauge

Caliber/Gauge: Smooth-bore flared barrel (specific caliber not provided)

Measurements

Overall length: 32 inches (81.28 cm)
Width: 8.5 inches (21.59 cm)
Height: 2.5 inches (6.35 cm)
Muzzle diameter: 1.75 inches (4.45 cm)
Weight: 1 pound (0.45 kg)

Component Materials

Barrel: Steel with gold and silver inlay
Stock: Walnut
Furniture: Steel with gold and silver decorative elements
Lock: Steel

Stock Details

Walnut stock with carved details, featuring rich brown patina

Markings and Proofs

The maker's mark of Louis Lamotte is located on the lock below the frizzen spring . The firearm is extensively decorated with "trophies of war" - a decorative style that became popular in European military and civilian arms during the 17th and 18th centuries. These trophies consist of artistically arranged groupings of military equipment and symbols:

Military Elements:
Crossed flags and standards (symbols of military victory)
Military drums (representing martial music and ceremony)
Stacked cannonballs (symbols of artillery power)
Field cannons (representing military might)

Decorative Elements integrated with the military themes:
Elaborate floral scrollwork in high relief
Wreaths (traditional symbols of victory and honor)
Cornucopias or "horns of plenty" (symbols of abundance and prosperity)
Fruit clusters (representing peace and plenty)

Object History

This luxury blunderbuss represents the high-end firearms production of Saint-Étienne, France, which was a major arms manufacturing center since the 16th century. The city was so renowned for arms production that it was briefly renamed "Armeville" during the French Revolution (1789-1799).

Related Collections

The F.E. Williams III Collection of Antique Weapons and Artifacts

Collection Attribution

Frederick Eugene Williams III (known as Jack Williams), Collector

References and Citations

"Le Qui est qui de l'arme en France de 1350 a 1970", Vol. I, p. 241

"Der Neue Stockel", Vol. 1, p. 677

Rights Statement

Rights Statement: © weaponscollector.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Attribution required: "From the F.E. Williams III Collection at weaponscollector.com"