A fine and exceptionally rare chiselled and relief-engraved 12-bore sidelock hammer gun by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 10624

The action flat and forend numbered '2', the treble-grip action-body profusely chiselled with best foliate-scrollwork in bas-relief, the hammers, lever, trigger-guard and lower tang engraved en suite, the underside engraved with two angels, the trigger guard with the vignette of a cherub, rebounding sidelocks, well figured stock (chipped and repaired at toe), with heel and toe plates finished en suite, the forend (some inset repair to left side) with metalwork finished en suite, the damascus barrels with game rib engraved J. Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley Street, London
Weight 6lb. 10oz., 14¼in. stock, 29½in. barrels, approx. cyl. & ½ choke, 2½in. chambers, London Black Powder proof (bore diameters marginal, wall thicknesses at 21 thou)

The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was sold as one of a pair in December 1880 to a Mr. Timothy Hutchinson of Eggleston Hall, Barnard Castle, as "chased guns" for £204 13s. Hutchinson then returned this pair in July 1882 in exchange for another pair of chased hammer guns. The guns were later split with the No. 1 gun being later sold to King Umberto I of Italy. This No. 2 gun was then sold to a Mr. Eugene Higgins of New York in 1891.

Mr. Timothy Hutchinson was a prolific collector of exhibition-grade Purdey guns and rifles, including a pair that was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition in 1878 and now reside at Sandringham as part of the Keane Bequest to the Royal Gunroom.

Mr Eugene Higgins was a bon vivant and the heir to his father's lucrative carpet making business, being described as "The wealthiest bachelor in New York". After his death in 1948, his estate was valued at more than $40 million (more than $385 million in 2019 dollars) which was later donated to various charities.