A Remarkable Early-16th c. Cast Blank of an Arquebus Bronze Barrel

Matchlock · 27th March 2012, 05:32 PM

As the description mentions that the touch hole together with a rectangular (!) pan is situated on the right-hand side, the date of "mid-15th c." assigned by the auction house is not realistic; the earliest date, in comparison with similar barrels, that I would suggest is "second decade 16th c.", ca. 1515.

Cast with a socket for a tiller stock, the muzzle section missing. The high-relief banded friezes probably meant to bear a date or inscription which were never eventually chiseled though. The coat-of-arms also left unfinished.
In excavated condition.

While this no doubt represents a highly interesting sample of Late Medieval/Early Renaissance craftsmanship, its actual value in a specialized collection of complete actual guns is very limited. So I did not purchase it.
The fact that the estimate was only exceeded by 100 euro proves that extremely few people are actually ready to lay their money down for an excavated piece, no matter how rare it may be.

As I have always believed, condition is what matters in the end!

Best,
Michael

Swordfish · 29th March 2012, 06:05 PM

I don`t believe that the excavated condition was the reason for the price. Many excavated bronze barrels are in a remarkably good condition, or can be improved by slight restoration. The reason for the low interest was that it is only a half barrel! Which serious collector wants to acquire a half barrel? For this poor fragment €3200,- incl. Premium is a high price!

Best

Susi

Matchlock · 29th March 2012, 08:42 PM

As I said, the overall condition is what matters.

m

Matchlock · 29th March 2012, 10:50 PM

Classing this piece, I wish to state that we all sort of automatically seeem to tend to addressing any kind of copper-alloy work of art as 'bronze'. Me included.

Several times before here, I have pointed out that the historic 500-year-old period term for this tye of cast barrels used in the inventory books of the Maximilian armories was 'Messing', which is brass. Of course, it depends on the alloy used.

I guess it is just because it sounds more valuable that the term bronze has come into such wide-spread usage.

m

27th March 2012, 05:32 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Remarkable Early-16th c. Cast Blank of an Arquebus Bronze Barrel As the description mentions that the touch hole together with a rectangular (!) pan is situated on the right-hand side, the date of "mid-15th c." assigned by the auction house is not realistic; the earliest date, in comparison with similar barrels, that I would suggest is "second decade 16th c.", ca. 1515. Cast with a socket for a tiller stock, the muzzle section missing. The high-relief banded friezes probably meant to bear a date or inscription which were never eventually chiseled though. The coat-of-arms also left unfinished. In excavated condition. While this no doubt represents a highly interesting sample of Late Medieval/Early Renaissance craftsmanship, its actual value in a specialized collection of complete actual guns is very limited. So I did not purchase it. The fact that the estimate was only exceeded by 100 euro proves that extremely few people are actually ready to lay their money down for an excavated piece, no matter how rare it may be. As I have always believed, condition is what matters in the end! Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 27th March 2012 at 08:01 PM.

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29th March 2012, 06:05 PM	#2
Swordfish Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 129	I don`t believe that the excavated condition was the reason for the price. Many excavated bronze barrels are in a remarkably good condition, or can be improved by slight restoration. The reason for the low interest was that it is only a half barrel! Which serious collector wants to acquire a half barrel? For this poor fragment €3200,- incl. Premium is a high price! Best Susi

29th March 2012, 08:42 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	As I said, the overall condition is what matters. m

29th March 2012, 10:50 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Classing this piece, I wish to state that we all sort of automatically seeem to tend to addressing any kind of copper-alloy work of art as 'bronze'. Me included. Several times before here, I have pointed out that the historic 500-year-old period term for this tye of cast barrels used in the inventory books of the Maximilian armories was 'Messing', which is brass. Of course, it depends on the alloy used. I guess it is just because it sounds more valuable that the term bronze has come into such wide-spread usage. m