Very Rare 18th C. North Indian Flintlock Blunderbuss, inlaid with rubies and turquoise

An exceptional quality North Indian, Punjab or Kashmir, blunderbuss, dating to the late 18th C. This example is in the traditional North Indian style, with a fine damascus barrel and singularly inlaid with gold kundun mounted ruby and turquoise stones. Precious gemstone inlaid Indian firearms of any era are exceptionally rare and this example with a damascus barrel and a fine original polished Indian redwood stock is a premier example.

The distinct downturned butt and form of the barrel is indicative of North Indian firearms, with the form and function taken from Ottoman Turkish blunderbusses that were imported and copied by Indian smiths, who essentially created miniature versions to use as pistols, which this example demonstrates.

The iron mounts retain much of the gold koftgari in floral forms.

Overall length is 19, barrel is 11 in length.