This gun dates to circa 1725 and is signed "I*3*FONTAINE" ahead of the elaborate engraved and chiseled floral, scroll, bird, and mask patterns on the breech section. The smoothbore barrel also features a rounded blade front sight with engraved accents and a steel tang with sighting groove and border engraving. The lock and steel mounts are engraved and chiseled en suite and feature a variety of finely executed patterns and motifs. The side-plate has pierced serpentine scroll designs and a portrait bust of a man wearing armor and a helmet, and the wrist escutcheon is pierced with scrollwork has a second portrait bust of apparently the same armored man with a coronet above. The stock has attractive molding and well-shaped comb with a carved accent extending around to the front of the cheekpiece. The forearm cap and tip of the original wooden ramrod are coordinating horn and bone. Sling swivels are fitted to the forearm and trigger-guard. Includes an undated certificate of authenticity signed by F. Theodore Dexter for Norman R. Blank, and Blank's collection notes indicate it came from the Grand Dukes of Saxe-Weimar, Schloss Ettersburg via W. Keith Neal on August 16, 1959. Provenance: The Grand Dukes of Saxe-Weimar; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Exceptionally fine with mostly bright steel throughout with crisp engraving and chiseling, and generally minimal overall wear. Top-jaw and jaw-screw replaced. The stock has hairline cracks visible on the forearm, repairs around the front of the lock, and distinct molding and carving. Mechanically fine. Overall, a very attractive piece of European firearms art originally from the collection at Schloss Ettersburg.