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Extraordinary French double barrel percussion exhibition sporting shotgun marked Charleville circa 1834
Dr Jonathan Lovell
Link to PDF file with more details
Introduction
This is a very beautiful and possibly unique French exhibition sporting gun from the Charleville armoury built around 1830 to 1836. It is also probably one of the last exhibition pieces produced by this factory, as it was permanently closed in 1836. The twisted steel barrels are unmarked and have neither proof nor inspection marks, which is expected for such exhibition pieces. The Paris Exposition 1834 (Exposition des produits de l'industrie Française en 1834) was originally intended to be held in 1832, but was postponed due to rioting and civil unrest in Paris that year. It was decided by the organising body that exhibits should mainly be products for the masses, and ideally would combine high quality and low price. This would probably discourage the use of gold in the construction/decoration of entries, and promote the neoclassical style which was considered to be a stabilising influence on the population. Included is an extract from the 1834 Paris Exposition with an entry that could be this gun; exhibition number: N.670. Un fusil double, rubans d acier, canon de Charleville, presented by Charles DeLebourse, Gunsmith in rue Coquillère, Paris and assignee of the exploitation right for the Lefaucheux invention. He was awarded the bronze medal and an honourable mention.
The 1834 Paris exhibition was unusual as it was the first time it was heald outside the louvre and was open to the public.
Detail of the gun. Interactive, click to take you to the relevant part of the page.
The carvings and engravings all conform to the Neoclassical style of art in vogue at the time of the guns manufacture; with idealised forms from Greek mythology and ancient France. In addition, the image of Aries on the forward tang of the trigger guard bears a striking resemblance to a character in the Edward Hicks painting The Peaceable Kingdom (c. 1834). The figures of Adam, the shepherd/farmer and biologist that can be found around the gun also follow the anatomical style of contemporary artworks from the early 19th century.
Source/Photographer National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C., online collection
The barrel tang is decorated with intricately engraved flowers, a rabbit and what appears to be 3 flowers of reducing size.
The gun is richly decorated and it is estimated that over 5000 individually crafted pieces of silver are used to create a number of intricate floral scenes and figures of people and animals that express much life and character in a typical neoclassical style. The stock around the tang is decorated with over 20 silver discs and small silver leaves arranged along an embedded strand of twisted silver. Just below are two silver doves in a nest that are extremely well engraved, even to the point of including the fine feathers around the breast area. A small pin is evident on the upper left side, which appears to hold the doves in position and is a later repair.
The wrist and hand grip area of the fore-end, are decorated with many small silver pins and stars. The pins are located with great precision and uniformity. The outside of the unsigned escutcheon plate is ornately engraved and also of silver. As can be seen, the stock is in near perfect original condition, and has not been touched since manufacture; other than perhaps a light polishing.
At the top of the stock by the butt-plate final is an image of Adam engraved in silver holding a chalice/cup and what appears to be a pineapple beside him. In the 18th and 19th century, the pineapple was established as a symbol of high social status, divine benevolence, fertility, abundance and the bounty of Eden. The close up shows Adam is perhaps looking a bit woeful at his cup. Below, engraved into the iron work on the butt-plate tang is a howling wolf caught in a trap.
The locks and
mechanisms are both in excellent condition. The silver braiding around the left
lock is almost complete, with a small missing piece in the lower left. The lock
is decorated with what appears to be a pigeon (the patches in the silver work
are just oxidisation). The right lock is also signed Charleville and a woodcock
is posed similarly to the pigeon on the left side and the silver braid is
complete. 
The foot of the stock is decorated with a jardinière of fruit (Peaches and lemons) and flowers, leaves and roses.
The forward tang of the trigger guard shows a Greek figure with helmet, spear and shield (very likely Aries) standing on a cloud with a rose garland above him. The trigger guard is decorated with a stag or similar large European game animal.
The stock is intricately carved, with the figure of a king (possibly Charlemagne); again the character expresses much life and the crown appears to have once been covered in gold leaf. The walnut stock is in very good condition and the main parts are relatively clear of decoration; with the exception of a large carved rosette on the left side, which could represent the Greek Vergina Sun symbol.
Charlemagne
The steel final from the ram-rod entry thimble is decorated with exquisitely carved characters including a lion, followed by a running hare, two hounds looking at each other with somewhat serious expressions and a slightly cross eyed ram or goat (one can wonder if the engraver was thinking of real people he knew when creating these figures).
The Lion
The Hare
The Hounds
The cross eyed goat
The left and right sides of the butt-end are decorated with flowers and roses, branches and leaves. In the centre of the left side is the figure of a biologist/naturalist studying a bird in a nest, and perhaps holding a pen in his hand.
The right side is also similarly decorated with flowers and leaves, though on this side the figure is of a farmer or similar person and faithful looking dog. He is holding a stick or crook in one hand and is wearing what appears to be a hawking glove on the other.
The barrels are of twisted steel (as described in the Paris Exposition entry) and are untouched, with the original finish and in an overall good condition; other than a small amount of pitting/corrosion which has been stabilised with oil.
As mentioned, the barrel is unmarked inline with other exhibition pieces.
The ramrod also appears to be original.