Lot 43
A FINE OTTOMAN SILVER-GILT MOUNTED FLINTLOCK RIFLE
TURKEY, 18th CENTURY
Auction: Islamic Art | Lots 1 to 66 | 12 June at 10am
Description
the barrel stamped with ‘Leievi’, with arch-shaped sighting plate, six silver barrel bands, stock covered with red velvet, stock and barrel extensively decorated with pierced and chased silver mounts decorated with ‘shams’ medallions, and comprising interlacing vine motifs, rosettes, palmettes and geometric designs
Dimensions
148cm (58 ¼in) length
Footnote
Note:
During the rise of the Ottoman dynasty, rifles became popular weapons. They were used as early as the second Battle of Kosovo (AD 1448) and the conquest of Constantinople (AD 1453). The Ottoman forces had special units of rifle makers for maintenance and repair of the weapons which played an important role on warfare. For comparable 18th century Ottoman flintlock rifles with silver mounts in the Istanbul Military Museum, see, Aysel Çötelioğlu, Askeri Müze Ateşli Silahlar Kataloğu, Istanbul, 2010, pp. 56, 66.