A CAUCASIAN FLINTLOCK RIFLE

A CAUCASIAN FLINTLOCK RIFLE, LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY, with etched twist octagonal barrel rifled with nine grooves, gold fore-sight, chiselled and encrusted with gold flowers and foliage at the muzzle and breech (small losses), the latter with grooved standing back-sight and retained by seven pierced and nielloed moulded silver bands, the tang decorated en suite, rounded French lock chiselled with the maker~s signature ~Fatou~, foliage and a cornucopia against a gold ground, burrwood full stock (small chips), rounded butt inlaid with mother-of-pearl plaques and dark stained strips of bone between brass fillets (losses), steel mounts including engraved trigger-guard, butt-cap and a pair of sling mounts, horn fore-end cap (chipped) and complete with its moulded iron ramrod, 109.5cm barrel