Rock Island Auction Company will offer an extraordinary and
historic 400-year-old wheellock from
King Louis XIII's Cabinet d'Armes in its August Premier
Auction
BEDFORD,
Texas, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- An
exceptionally rare and historic wheellock sporting arm from the
renowned Cabinet d'Armes of King Louis XIII will be up for
auction during Rock Island Auction Company's (RIAC) August
Premier Auction, Friday, Aug. 23
through Sunday, Aug. 25. The firearm
has a pre-auction estimate of $350,000 - $550,000.
The Cabinet d'Armes of King Louis XIII is unparalleled in
17th-century firearms and beyond. Often hailed as the most
important arms collection in history, it boasts an impressive array
of hundreds of firearms collected by the king for their intricate
ornamentation, technological advances, and those with previous
royal or noble owners. The Victoria & Albert Museum credits the
young French King as "the first real European gun collector,"
underscoring the historical importance of this collection.
The remarkable sporting arm is marked #24 on the underside of
the stock and is one of the original inventoried firearms in the
Cabinet d'Armes, dating back to the 1620s and the early
years of King Louis XIII's reign. The gun features a smoothbore
barrel highly decorated with silver and gold damascened
ornamentation and has intricately detailed figures likely
representing the Horae: Eirene
(Peace), Eunomia (Good Order) and Dike (Justice). The lock,
which is signed "F.P.," is attributed to the renowned Parisian
gunmaker Francois Poumerol, who frequently crafted firearms
presented to King Louis XIII.
"We've had phenomenal opportunities to handle the finest
collections and incredibly significant individual pieces, but this
is in a class all its own. It is absolutely captivating," says
Kevin Hogan, President of Rock
Island Auction Company. "In firearms terms, this is from antiquity.
It is from the same era as the King James
Bible and Rembrandt and has somehow avoided residence in a
world-class museum. It's an extraordinary opportunity for what we
believe to be the finest long arm in private circulation."
King Louis XIII's reign was marked by a revolutionary period in
firearms technology, transitioning from matchlocks and wheellocks
to the more advanced flintlocks. This striking example is a prime
illustration of the artistry and technological advancements of the
period, reflecting the royal patronage and craftsmanship of one of
history's most significant arms collections.
This historic and extravagant wheellock is one of the many items
that will be featured at RIAC's August Premier Auction. Online,
in-person and phone bidding will be available starting Friday, Aug. 23.
For additional information on Rock Island Auction Company and
other highlights of the August event, visit:
www.rockislandauction.com.
About Rock Island Auction Company:
Rock Island Auction
Company is the world's no. 1 auction company for firearms, bladed
weapons and militaria. Founded in 1993 by its current CEO
Patrick Hogan, RIAC continues to
lead the industry with record sales numbers and its extensive and
well-crafted marketing efforts. The company's 150,000 square-foot
Illinois campus consists of two
buildings and serves as the company's hub for catalog and content
production. The 90,000 square-foot Bedford facility opened in December 2023 and will host six of the company's
18+ auctions each year. RIAC actively seeks consignments, be it a
single weapon or a collection of hundreds, an item valued at
$1,000 or $1
million.
Media Contact:
Mattie Van
Gundy
(713) 409-1835
379271@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Rock Island Auction Company