Lot 175: AN OTTOMAN BONE INLAID MIQUELET LOCK RIFLE (TUFEK), TURKEY, 19TH CENTURY

An Ottoman miquelet-lock rifle, or tufek, likely originating from Turkey or the Balkan region and dating to the 19th century. The long steel barrel is octagonal at the breech, transitioning to a rounded profile towards the muzzle. It is decorated with silver-coloured metal inlays featuring floral scrollwork and foliate motifs at the breech and muzzle sections. The barrel is secured to the stock by several engraved white-metal and brass bands. The rifle is fitted with a steel miquelet-lock mechanism of characteristic form, with the exterior of the lockplate showing simple engraved linear decoration. The dark-stained wooden stock has a pronounced flared fishtail butt, a design typical of long guns from Ottoman territories. The stock is extensively decorated with numerous bone or ivory inlays in various shapes, including five-pointed stars, crescents, lozenges, and foliate patterns. Further embellishment includes intricate silver-coloured wirework and engraved brass bands.

L: 118cm