Been a lovely day weatherwise (and every otherwise as well). Motored over to an antique fair at Risby this morning, through bright sunshine -wish I'd taken the camera- I must get used to ALWAYS taking it with us - it remained on the kitchen table this morning. Awful lot of water about, especially as the snow has all thawed over the last twenty four hours. Didn't find anything to purchase at the antique fair, and couldn't hang about as we were having lunch with Heather at twelve thirty. Hilary was there, as was Margaret - a lady we know to nod to, but hadn't really met before. We both liked her. Heather gave us roast chicken in an orange sauce - sounds an odd mix I know, but worked very well, followed by a French apple tart with cream. When I say French, it was made by Heather and had thin slices of eating apple on top arranged in patterns. We then lingered over coffee. I sat with me back to the window, so I could see (and therefore hear)
everybody, and didn't have to go "Eh ????" much at all. Caught up on all the town news. Got home about
five p.m.
Put the picture up mainly because I forgot (as I confessed earlier) to take the camera out this morning. The very antique gun is one on which I have been doing a certain amount of restoration work over the last few weeks. I also had to make a couple of parts that were missing. It is now with it's owner, who was pleased to have it back, now complete, and in better condition generally.
Good Night All.
4 comments:
Handsome old thing...
OK, yes you too but I meant the weapon.
Would it have been the sort of protection used on the mail coaches, perhaps? Or just a general g'zunder in case of burglary?
Is it English or do I detect a hint of Schwartzwald about it?
Rather a forerunner of the coaching blunderbuss, although given the bore (about three quarters of an inch) and the heavily swamped muzzle, it would have been about as effective. I think of it as a heavy carbine.
It would generally be described as Anglo/Dutch, but in fact the barrel markings indicate that it is definitely Dutch. Stylistically it appears to date from the very early 17th century, c. 1600 to 1620. It was very satisfying to work on, in fact I spent longer on it than I charged for. Rarely get the chance to get one's hooks on something of that period.
Great being paid for something you love doing. All employers should bear that in mind when devising job systems. Thanks for the extra info, very interesting stuff for all your avid readers, I'm sure. I know you're self-effacing about your expertise, skills and artistry but we love to be let into your specialist slant on the artifacts you so lovingly restore and their histories and your methodology.
The picture astonished me, but I found that had bad speculation and your description of your fine day made me happy. Thank you so much for visiting my blog, Mike and Ann.
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