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Early and ORNATE Dutch 75-cal Snaphaunce

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Not for everybody, but it sure turns heads! Weighs in at a hefty 10.8 pounds, but I will say ... fishtail stocked arms carry and 'cheek and shoulder' much nicer than their otherwise ungainly looks might belie!

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The verse on the side plate is from Andrew Marvell's poem, The Garden, written between 1651 and 1657. The spelling of "shayde" is a false antiquarian innovation. The original poem had it spelled "shade." The lettering also looks off for a 17th c piece. Marvell's poetry didn't gain a lot of attention until its revival in the 19th century.

The complexity of the decorative elements doesn't correspond to the nature of their execution or technique. I'd agree with PhDBrewer that piece is a later repro. Still, quite an eyeful. It probably graced the wall of a Victorian hunting lodge and looked down on a bunch of nabobs sipping warm gin, smoking cigars, and reminiscing about the siege of Lucknow.
 
Contemporary Dutch-Style Flintlock Snaphaunce Musket
John B. Derrick (American, b.1936)

.77 caliber. 46" two stage octagonal to round barrel length. SN: NSN.
Bright metal finish. Full length walnut stock has a flared Dutch-style buttstock, carved thumb rest to right side of grip, and a forearm with elk horn fittings and incised lines.
Snaphance action smoothbore musket with notch rear sight and silver blade front sight.
Item features carved elk horn fittings on left face of buttstock that appear to be Diana and a cherub, preceded by a fitting showing several entangled grotesque animals. Above those fittings are three mother of pearl fittings that show grotesques intertwined with a knotwork pattern. Right side of butt has elk horn fittings that appear to show an Echidna holding a skull, preceded by an arabesque design. Above those fittings are three mother of pearl fittings, one of a grotesque intertwined with knotwork and two knotwork without figures. Both sides of forearm have carved elk horn neoclassical knotwork panels followed by foot prints and hoof prints in succession.
Side panel is fitted with a carved elk horn panel with devil grotesques holding a banner with lines from the poem "The Garden" by Andrew Marvell, which reads Annihilating All that's made/To a green thought/In the green shayde.
Bottom edge of stock has a carved elk horn filigree fitting, and top of wrist has a neoclassical elk horn fitting that reads JD/Fecit.
Buttplate is cast silver in the neoclassical style, with a pierced center showing a vignette of a grotesque above what appears to be Diana. Bottom edge of buttstock has a cast silver filigree fitting.
Triggerguard is cast silver with grotesque and neoclassical details.
Ferrules are cast silver with single oak leaves, and ferrule throat is cast in the shape of a swan.
Forend cap is also cast silver with floral motifs. Top of wrist features a cast silver grotesque.

Lock is from the Rifle Shoppe. Wood ramrod with carved elk horn tip. "

William
 
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