A beautiful silver mounted snaphaunce lock blunderbuss signed Acqua Fresca and Gironimo Mutti dating: about 1730 provenance: Bologna, Smoothbore, two-stage barrel, octagonal at the first part with signature 'GIRONIMO MVTTI' at the base, framed and divided with shamrocks, then round after a ring with strongly bell-mouthed nozzle and decorated with a ring. Snaphaunce lock with rounded plate, finely engraved with a naked woman with her dog, a bird with open wings, floral motifs (in bas relief at the tang) and signature 'Acqua Fresca' in the centre. The hammer with a bearded face and spirals, the screw covered by a carved mask with a face, batterie decorated with floral motifs, sliding pan cover. Fine briarwood stock (small old restorations) slightly sculpted and with horn fore-end cap. Finely engraved and carved silver mounts, the counterplate with hunting trophy, hound, and floral motifs partly in bas-relief, the butt plate with hunting trophy and interlaced bands, the trigger guard engraved and with a mark and a shield under crown at the base. On the left side browned iron saddle ring. Horn-and iron-tipped wooden ramrod, provided with iron cartridge extractor. provenance: Keith Neal collection, sale Bonham’s, London, Knightsbridge, 10 Nov 2005, lot 46.For Geronimo Mutti see 'Repertorio Storico Degli Archibugiari Italiani dal XIV al XX Secolo' by Bruno Barbiroli, the barrel maker supposed to operate in Gardone Val Trompia in 1730 (pag. 386), for the Acqua Fresca dynasty pag. 53 - 55. length 89.5 cm.