A Highly Important Inscribed Polish-Italian Fintlock Blunderbuss, dated 1733

Matchlock · 21st April 2010, 07:21 PM

Sold by auction at Rothenbücher, Bayreuth (the Wagner City) in Franconia, Nov 15, 2008.

I give the full German catalog text as it quotes the unsually extensive Old Polish and Latin barrel inscription. The barrel bears the maker's signature of a member of the most renowned Italian barrelsmith family, Lazaro Lazarino (Cominazzo). The fact that the most important actual family name of Cominazzo is missing here can be interpreted as a hint to the fact that the barrel and gun clearly reflect the Italian taste but are of original Polish craftsmanship.

The overall length was 90 cm, the estimate 3,500 euro. The auction house does not publish price lists but I should say that anything between 15,000 and 30,000 euro would seem adequate.

Enjoy.

Best,
Michael

fernando · 21st April 2010, 11:11 PM

Magnificent, Michael !
Was it made for a noble ... a count ... so i read in the Latin part?
If i wouldn't know its origin, as ignorant as i am, i would say that parts of the decoration are the type found in some guns at the Real Armearia de Madrid, as can be seen in its catalogue.
Do i notice that the inscription in Latin is so extensive as that in old Polish?
Interesting indeed.
The only uninteresting thing in it is ... the price it must have gone up to

Fernando

Matchlock · 22nd April 2010, 12:09 PM

Hi Fernando,

The inscription states that this blunderbuss was a present by both the citizens and senate of the city of Elblag, and by the Count of Czapski to King Stanislaus I in memory of the beginning of the War of the Polish Succession in 1733-5.

You are of course perfectly right, my learned friend: this remarkable style of decoration in the French-Italian taste was copied all over Europe and came to be the leading style of the first half of the 18th century. There are certainly fine samples in the Real Armería as well.

Best,
Michael

Dmitry · 23rd April 2010, 04:56 PM

What is the [more recent] provenance for this piece?

Matchlock · 23rd April 2010, 08:25 PM

The provenance was a small Franconian castle the name of which was not given in the catalog.

Best,
Michael

21st April 2010, 07:21 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Highly Important Inscribed Polish-Italian Flintlock Blunderbuss, Dated 1733 Sold by auction at Rothenbücher, Bayreuth (the Wagner City) in Franconia, Nov 15, 2008. I give the full German catalog text as it quotes the unsually extensive Old Polish and Latin barrel inscription. The barrel bears the maker's signature of a member of the most renowned Italian barrelsmith family, Lazaro Lazarino (Cominazzo). The fact that the most important actual family name of Cominazzo is missing here can be interpreted as a hint to the fact that the barrel and gun clearly reflect the Italian taste but are of original Polish craftsmanship. The overall length was 90 cm, the estimate 3,500 euro. The auction house does not publish price lists but I should say that anything between 15,000 and 30,000 euro would seem adequate. Enjoy. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 22nd April 2010 at 02:36 PM.

21st April 2010, 11:11 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Magnificent, Michael ! Was it made for a noble ... a count ... so i read in the Latin part? If i wouldn't know its origin, as ignorant as i am, i would say that parts of the decoration are the type found in some guns at the Real Armearia de Madrid, as can be seen in its catalogue. Do i notice that the inscription in Latin is so extensive as that in old Polish? Interesting indeed. The only uninteresting thing in it is ... the price it must have gone up to Fernando

22nd April 2010, 12:09 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Fernando, The inscription states that this blunderbuss was a present by both the citizens and senate of the city of Elblag, and by the Count of Czapski to King Stanislaus I in memory of the beginning of the War of the Polish Succession in 1733-5. You are of course perfectly right, my learned friend: this remarkable style of decoration in the French-Italian taste was copied all over Europe and came to be the leading style of the first half of the 18th century. There are certainly fine samples in the Real Armería as well. Best, Michael

23rd April 2010, 04:56 PM	#4
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	What is the [more recent] provenance for this piece?

23rd April 2010, 08:25 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The provenance was a small Franconian castle the name of which was not given in the catalog. Best, Michael