A superb Spanish percussion shotgun, circa 1840/50 Octagonal to sixteen-sided barrel with smooth bore in 17.5 mm calibre. Richly decorated with fine gold damascening on blued and finely repousséd ground. Depicting hunter and hounds between fine scrolling foliage. Gold inlaid inscription "De Callos de Herraduras" (forged from a horse shoe) on top of the barrel. Four gold-damascened marks at the breech, one reading "YRUSTA" surmounted by a crown, probably representing Gaspar Rusta, active in Eibar around 1790-1810. Percussion lock with external central spring, the lock plate with gold damascened scrolling foliage on finely respousséd ground. Cock chiselled in the form of Hercules with the lion. Finely grained walnut half stock with richly chiselled and gold-damascened furniture. Inscribed "Ortega" under the trigger guard, tower of Castille engraved on the trigger guard. Compartment for the strap lug in the buttstock. Pierced ramrod ferrules, blackened wooded ramrod with iron tip. Length 126 cm. A fine, significant presentation weapon. Probably made for a member of the Spanish royal family or for the London World Fair of 1851. Condition: I -