Catalog Auction info Auction #121 - Two-Day Sale, March 23 & 24 (#121) 03/23/2019 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/23/2019 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #201Astonishing High Art Profusely Silver Inlaid Double Flintlock Fowler From Wheeler Click image to enlarge PreviousNext Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$12,650 Estimate: $10,000 - $20,000 Description Description: 20 ga., 33'' barrels with very good bores which show some scattered very sparse oxidation. This astonishing arm has finest quality gold damascening and inlay on its barrels with some lovely engraving on the lockplates and extensive overall silver wire and engraved silver inlays covering the entire stock. The barrels are a pleasing fading plum brown and gray twist steel damascus pattern their full length with a few sparsely scattered spots of very light oxidation or light rubs, or handling marks from the years; they are very unobtrusive. There is a simple silver bead front sight in place and the first foot of the barrels from the breech forward shows extensive draped ribbon, foliate, bow and geometric inlays with the makers name ''Wheeler'' engraved in a gold scrolled riband flanked by light open foliate scroll at each end. Near the breech we find a large gold inlaid tree with perched pheasants at the base of-which is what appears very much to be a Scottish thistle left and pheasant right, below this we see dual sun bursts with quail and a gun dog left and right respectively. The flat beveled lockplates are a dull a pewter case-hardened patina and curve inwardly at their rear steps, each with a very small teat. They show light tasteful engraving and banknote filigree bordering with gold inlaid martial panoplies left and right with the makers name engraved ''Wheeler'' at center. There are graceful swan neck cocks and well-executed waterproof pans which are gold lined, with bridled roller frizzens with upward curving tails, and frizzen backs lightly engraved; the vents are gold lined as well. The arm features extensive sterling silver inlays over all with double ramrod thimbles and a bird and scroll engraved tailpipe. The stock features extensive exquisite fine wire inlays with overall floral and foliate engraved and decoration, what can be seen of the stock is highly figured English walnut rating very fine overall. The barrel is keyed with dual wedges through foliate silver escutcheons the forend with a boars head hunting panoply surrounded by braided foliate vine, beneath-which is a draped urn overflowing with flora and fruits, beneath-which is a Roman gladiators head with his steel helm raised above his brow. The long tang triggerguard features a chiseled and engraved pineapple finial front extension with hunting panoply on the bow of the guard, the long tang with Birmingham silver hallmarks dating to the year 1792, confirming .925 sterling and Birmingham as the city, as well as King George III duty stamp. There are hanging games scenes left and right of the wrist and the butt shows stunning, open, neatly engraved martial panoplies in near full coverage, both left and right. The right appliqué shows a spread-winged American eagle beneath shield, the center of which has a small face smiling, perhaps a cherub, appearing very French in character. The left panoply has a male lion beneath shield, center of the shield with a stork with outstretched wings, both of these no doubt being family coat of arms crest or other important connection. There is a wrist inlay present which featured a martial theme with a slightly decorative border, much of the inlays outer periphery has been lost, but over 95% of the inlay is present; at some point there was a crack through this area which was very neatly repaired many years ago and is sound, however it would appear as though the inlay itself suffered slight damage at that time. There is a full-length comb inlay with an urn near the buttplate tang and open foliate floral scroll emanating from it, with similar embellishment along the toeline. All of the engraving on the silver remains remarkably sound given the soft nature of the metal, no major wear is evident and all the detail is present. The buttplate is hallmarked as well and shows nice engraving along its upper tang with what appears to be a royal plume of feathers, crossed muskets and a recumbent hunting hound, with a boar's head at the base. The buttplate shows the same sterling silver touch marks as the long tang triggerguard with the exception of the date stamping which dates the buttplate to 1793, the maker in both cases is ''CF'' in rectangle. Given the dating on the touch marks, we attribute this arm to the work of Robert Wheeler of Birmingham, 1766-1799. An absolute work of art that would've taken many months to complete, likely for presentation to a person of import or perhaps as an exhibition arm; an outstanding late 18th-century fowler of the highest quality. (38937-249) {ANTIQUE} [Cletus Klein Collection] Categories: Terms and conditions GENERAL STATEMENTS • All bidders must register and obtain a bidding number in order to participate in the auction; in so-doing they agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the sale. Absentee/Telephone bidders must register by filling out and signing an absentee bid sheet, online bidders must register per the online terms of registration. • The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall become the owner upon the fall of the hammer. The auctioneer has sole discretion in the case of a dispute among bidders. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. • All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignors interests. • Reserves: A very few lots will be offered with reserve. In cases where items are reserved, a bid of the low estimate will always exceed the reserve. Reserves will be bid by the auctioneer as an opening bid so any bid taken from the floor or the phone is a live bid above the reserve amount. • Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. PAYMENT POLICY • Invoices are payable upon receipt. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express as payment for items purchased. Online payment will now be available for buyers directly through the online invoicing process. • Credit card purchases are limited to $50,000.00 per customer, per auction. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to demand cash or hold merchandise until funds are collected in full. There will be a $35.00 charge for all returned checks. • A 17.5% Buyer’s Premium will be added to all purchases regardless of price with a 2.5% discount when paying with check or cash . This premium is to be paid as part of the purchase price. • Customers without prior credit approval who intend on making purchases in excess of $10,000 must provide credit information such as a bank letter of credit prior to bidding. GUIDELINES FOR FIREARM PURCHASES • All Federal, State and Local firearms laws will be observed. FFL holders may take possession of any firearm on day of sale when they present a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License. New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm on day of sale providing the proper paperwork is filled out and the transfer has been approved either through the NH State Police or the FBI NICS System. While most NICS and State approvals are immediate, approvals could take up to 3 days. Most non-residents may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check; modern handguns will need to be shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped, to their state of residence. CLASS III WEAPONS • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. is a licensed Class III S.O.T. and handles transfers of Machineguns, Suppressors, A.O.W.’s and short barreled rifles and shotguns in-house. Class III invoices are expected to be paid upon receipt, no transfer paperwork will be executed until the invoice is paid. Know that class III transfers take a good deal of time for Federal approval and we are at their mercy. Firearms are marked as follows: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. Firearms that are not marked with one of these notations are considered to be “MODERN” and all proper paperwork is required unless you are an FFL Dealer. ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE/ON-LINE BIDDING • As a service to our buyers, Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept absentee bids from bidders who cannot attend the sale. Bidders without prior credit approval are required to submit a 20% deposit prior to bids being accepted (credit cards may be used for absentee deposits). Absentee bids will be bid in a competitive manner and an absentee bidder needs only to outbid another buyer i.e. bidding will not be opened at the maximum bid unless that is the next competitive bid. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges. Properly registered Amoskeag On-line bidders may use this service free of additional charges as an alternative to telephone or absentee bidding, at their election. On-line bidders should be aware that the sale proceeds at a very rapid pace and should plan their bidding strategies accordingly. • Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be held responsible for errors or omissions of any type that may occur during these services. • All absentee bids must be received by 8:00pm on the day prior to the auction. If you plan to attend the sale but will not be staying until the end and want to leave a bid on an item that will be sold after you leave, we must have those bids in by 8:00am on the morning of the sale. No bids will be accepted after that time. Please do not call the gallery once the auction has started (after 9:00am) as we will not be able to accept bids or make changes to bids. • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will also accept telephone bids on a limited basis. Telephone bidding is reserved for seriously interested bidders. In order to bid by telephone, the bidder must be willing to pay at least the low estimate of the item being bid on. NOTE: Phone bids MUST be arranged by 5:00pm ON THURSDAY prior to the sale. • All absentee/telephone bidder invoices are mailed within a few days of the sale, on-line invoices are issued by end of business on the Tuesday following the sale; all invoices are due upon receipt. Invoices are to be paid either by cash or check, or by credit cards listed above. All items not paid for within 20 business days from sale date shall be considered abandoned as well as any deposit that was made on those items and Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. shall have sole discretion as to their disposal. WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, we recommend that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use.
