The standard engraving 'patterns' or motifs were generally true to the grade up to the grade 4 guns. After that, grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 were often engraved to order, within reason and good taste.
Up to the early 1890's the engraving motifs through grade 3 and into grade 4, changed a few times from the beginning of the hammerless guns. The changes were often the decision of the chief engraver with the approval or direction of the superintendant of the gun works. But keep in mind that the chief engraver was rarely the one who worked on the lower grades but in some cases he would do the game scenes while the journeymen and apprentices would do the borders and simple scroll.
.
__________________
"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
|
Threaded Mode