Lot 1200

Extensive Scrimshaw Inlaid Wheellock from Schloss Dyck

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Extensive Scrimshaw Inlaid Wheellock from Schloss Dyck

Estimate: $45,000 - $65,000

Starting Bid: $40,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Extraordinary Wheellock Sporting Gun with Extensive Scrimshaw Stock Inlays from the Famous Princely Collection at Schloss Dyck Ornate 16th and 17th century wheellocks are staples of fine antique arms collections both in the U.S. and abroad thanks to the incredible artistry that went into their production. They were particularly popular in Germanic regions from the early 16th century through the mid-17th century, and many remained in aristocratic collections for centuries. Extravagant wheellocks became particularly popular with collectors in the Victorian era, and many are now secured in institutional collections, displayed behind museum glass, leaving comparatively few in private collections today. This wheellock has the addorsed salmon crest and inventory number 55 on underside of the cheekpiece from the famous arms collection of the Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck at Schloss Dyck. The collection remained virtually complete until being sold in the early 1990s. The smoothbore barrel on this stunning piece has a blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight, and a groove at the breech. The lock has what appears to be "1.1.5.7.9.K" on the wheel cover just below the priming pan and "1579" on the "collar" on the neck of the dog. The dog is engraved with a bestial mask and foliate design. Coordinating engraving is featured on the interior and exterior lock components while the plate itself is unadorned. The lock has two empty tapped holes indicating it was originally mounted to another gun. The stock is a true work of art and features an extraordinary number of individually inlaid and scrimshawed bone and staghorn inlays. The bottom of the forend ahead of the lock features a distinctive scene of Judith with the head of Holofernes depicting the Jewish heroine nude with a sword in her left hand and the head of Holofernes on her right. Judith in the act of decapitating Holofernes or holding his sword and severed head afterwards were both fairly popular subjects for artists working in various mediums in the Renaissance and Baroque eras, sometimes depicting Judith nude reflecting her seduction of Holofernes. For example, see "Judith" by Jans Sanders van Hemessen c. 1540 in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago (Reference Number 1956.1109), "Judith with the Head of Holofernes..." by Cherubino Alberti c. 1570-1615 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Object Number: 51.501.3769), and the small alabaster sculpture by Conrat Meit in the Bayerisches National Museum (Inventory Number: R 204). Variations of the scene are also known engraved on staghorn panels on multiple Nuremberg powder flasks. The buttplate is inscribed with "MB", an emblem, and "1590". "MB" is also seen on the barrel of the wheellock noted as made for the bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony on view at the Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 375 (Object Number: 28.100.7). The incredible number of finely shaped and engraved inlays along the entire length of the stock display a wide variety of designs, including masks, mythical monsters, a variety of beasts, foliate scroll patterns, pair of putti on the cheek, a bird on the right side of the butt, and a variety of borders patterns. While the patterns are incredibly varied, some of the motifs are similar to those seen on other Germanic wheellocks; for example, see pages 107-115 of "Decorate Firearms 1540-1870 from the Collection of Clay P. Bedford" by Wallace B. Gusler and James D. Lavin. An iron tipped ramrod is fitted beneath the barrel in an enclosed channel.

Manufacturer: German

Model: Wheellock

BBL: 51 inch octagon

Stock: hardwood

Gauge: 24

Finish: bright

Serial NumberNSN

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The Collection of Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck at Schloss Dyck; The Tom Lewis Collection
  • Condition: Fine with silver-gray patina on the metal, minor pitting, a tool mark at the breech on the left, and general fairly minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has generally crisp engraving on the inlays, some replacement inlays and discreet repairs, a sliver absent at the muzzle on the left, and small piece absent at the rear of the trigger guard. Not mechanically tested. This stunning work of art is sure to be a great statement piece in any antique arms collection.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000