Royal Quality Matchlock Musket Circa 1550 - 1600
Fully period inlaid Dutch or English matchlock musket circa 1550 - 1600. In 56 years of selling fine European antique firearms I have only had the opportunity to buy three inlaid original to the period matchlock muskets. This one has recently been conserved and was found coated with a sticky brown shellack or furniture varnish. A various astute firearms expert saw through the shabby appearance and poor catalog description at auction. The astute buyer purchased this arm for less than half its value and had it professionally restored. I saw it before and after and decided I must obtain it as it is the most intact and original specimen I have seen since the early 1990's when The Hank Visser Collection was sold. The varnish I mentioned protected and preserved the original inlays which are absolutely genuine and this matchlock is absolutely suitable for the most advanced collection or institution.
(Note) The only other inlaid matchlock we can find for sale in the world today is a contemporary reproduction by my friend Dale Shin made 20 to 30 years ago which is priced at nearly $10,000. This musket has about 5% of the area inlaid comparing it to my original offered here. Priced very fairly at $32,500.
Fully period inlaid Dutch or English matchlock musket circa 1550 - 1600. In 56 years of selling fine European antique firearms I have only had the opportunity to buy three inlaid original to the period matchlock muskets. This one has recently been conserved and was found coated with a sticky brown shellack or furniture varnish. A various astute firearms expert saw through the shabby appearance and poor catalog description at auction. The astute buyer purchased this arm for less than half its value and had it professionally restored. I saw it before and after and decided I must obtain it as it is the most intact and original specimen I have seen since the early 1990's when The Hank Visser Collection was sold. The varnish I mentioned protected and preserved the original inlays which are absolutely genuine and this matchlock is absolutely suitable for the most advanced collection or institution.
(Note) The only other inlaid matchlock we can find for sale in the world today is a contemporary reproduction by my friend Dale Shin made 20 to 30 years ago which is priced at nearly $10,000. This musket has about 5% of the area inlaid comparing it to my original offered here. Priced very fairly at $32,500.
Fully period inlaid Dutch or English matchlock musket circa 1550 - 1600. In 56 years of selling fine European antique firearms I have only had the opportunity to buy three inlaid original to the period matchlock muskets. This one has recently been conserved and was found coated with a sticky brown shellack or furniture varnish. A various astute firearms expert saw through the shabby appearance and poor catalog description at auction. The astute buyer purchased this arm for less than half its value and had it professionally restored. I saw it before and after and decided I must obtain it as it is the most intact and original specimen I have seen since the early 1990's when The Hank Visser Collection was sold. The varnish I mentioned protected and preserved the original inlays which are absolutely genuine and this matchlock is absolutely suitable for the most advanced collection or institution.
(Note) The only other inlaid matchlock we can find for sale in the world today is a contemporary reproduction by my friend Dale Shin made 20 to 30 years ago which is priced at nearly $10,000. This musket has about 5% of the area inlaid comparing it to my original offered here. Priced very fairly at $32,500.