A 48 BORE SILESIAN WHEEL-LOCK BIRDING GUN (TSCHINKE), MID-17TH CENTURY with three-stage barrel octagonal over the breech (pitted, cleaned), fitted with moulded silver fore-sight, engraved blued lock of characteristic form, fitted with external mainspring partly covered by an engraved steel panel, engraved sliding pan-cover with button release, button-catch for setting the sear, flash-guard and engraved dog decorated with tulip flowers (worn, restorations), fruitwood full stock profusely inlaid over its surface with engraved staghorn scrolling tendrils and pellets inhabited by rabbits and foxes pursued by hounds, decorated with a bear beneath the breech, carved cheek-piece with a foliate escutcheon supported by scrolling monsters on the left and patchbox with sliding cover decorated en suite on the right, the whole enriched with green-stained horn rondels, mother-of-pearl ball flowers and further staghorn plaques engraved with flowers and foliage, steel trigger-guard shaped for the fingers, engraved staghorn ramrod-pipe and butt-plate the latter decorated with a rabbit (repairs), two red painted inventory numbers, and horn tipped ramrod, perhaps the original 78.6cm; 31in Provenance An Aristocratic Collection, sold Jürg Stuker, Bern, 5th-16th May 1977, lot 3684.