Lot Essay
Gosset worked as assistant to Boutet at the Versailles manufactory before setting up on his own. His detonating patent was taken out on 11 July 1820
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The Property of the late Lord Wraxall, Removed from Tyntesfield, Somerset, Offered by Order of the Executors
A RARE CASED PAIR OF 40-BORE GOSSET PATENT UNDER-HAMMER DETONATING TARGET PISTOLS
BY LOUIS-MARIN GOSSET, PARIS, CIRCA 1820-25
Details
A RARE CASED PAIR OF 40-BORE GOSSET PATENT UNDER-HAMMER DETONATING TARGET PISTOLS
By Louis-Marin Gosset, Paris, circa 1820-25
With blued gold-inlaid polygroove rifled swamped octagonal barrels each signed in gold, numbered respectively '1' and '2' in gold, and each with gold fore-sight, case-hardened patent breeches each with two gold lines, finely engraved case-hardened actions decorated with flower-heads, birds, foliage, and minute vignettes of landscapes, the top-straps numbered respectively '1' and '2' in gold, signed 'Gosset Breveté' in gold within a gold oval, and fitted with gold back-sight, flattened figured walnut butts with laurel chequering, oval pommels finely carved with flower-heads and acanthus foliage in relief, finely engraved case-hardened spur trigger-guards, set triggers, case-hardened shaped oval pommel-caps each inlaid with a gorgon-mask in gold, and some original finish (scattered surface rust and pitting): in their original fitted mahogany-veneered case (damaged) lined in green baize (incomplete) with most of the original accessories including brass-mounted translucent horn flask, and a large number of original detonating discs
15½in. (39.4cm.)
By Louis-Marin Gosset, Paris, circa 1820-25
With blued gold-inlaid polygroove rifled swamped octagonal barrels each signed in gold, numbered respectively '1' and '2' in gold, and each with gold fore-sight, case-hardened patent breeches each with two gold lines, finely engraved case-hardened actions decorated with flower-heads, birds, foliage, and minute vignettes of landscapes, the top-straps numbered respectively '1' and '2' in gold, signed 'Gosset Breveté' in gold within a gold oval, and fitted with gold back-sight, flattened figured walnut butts with laurel chequering, oval pommels finely carved with flower-heads and acanthus foliage in relief, finely engraved case-hardened spur trigger-guards, set triggers, case-hardened shaped oval pommel-caps each inlaid with a gorgon-mask in gold, and some original finish (scattered surface rust and pitting): in their original fitted mahogany-veneered case (damaged) lined in green baize (incomplete) with most of the original accessories including brass-mounted translucent horn flask, and a large number of original detonating discs
15½in. (39.4cm.)