A beautiful snaphaunce lock gun by Giuseppe Guardiani dating: 1806 provenance: Tuscany, Smoothbore, two-stage, 16 mm cal. barrel, octagonal at the base with the mark 'PISTOIA' and the effigy of a lion, both gold-inlaid, then round with rings at the girdle, decorated with three silver mounts featuring floral and geometric decorations; beautiful lock richly carved with human figures, masks, fishes and floral motifs in bas-relief; impressive face between the two jaws; the plate part under the cock is engraved with a snake and floral motifs which can be seen when the gun is cocked, marking 'anghiari' under the sliding pan cover, inside the lock plate is marked 'Giuseppe Guardiani', 'No. 1247' and dated '1806', the hammer does not hold the cocking position. Full stock richly sculpted, with a fish on the butt and floral motifs along the barrel, beautiful steel mounts carved, engraved and partially pierced with human figures, busts, snakes and floral motifs; iron-tipped wooden ramrod. On the left side two loops for a strap. See similar works in 'Armi da Fuoco Portatili Italiane' by Agostino Gaibi, Bramante, 1962 plates 170-171. length 123 cm.