Parisian “Armurerie” Gunsmith’s Desk c.1860-80

An incredible Parisian ‘Armurerie’ Gunsmiths desk/workbench. c.1860-80. This absolutely unique piece of furniture would have been used by the Gunsmith for all aspects of his work: locking drawers with original name plates and numbers; two slide-out table leafs where the apprentices would have studied and worked and a bank of bore gauge holes, still containing some of the forms for cartridge and barrel measurement. The Armoury would have been an important and prestigious place - the frieze surmounting the desk is unusually ornate and elegant, suggesting this piece was made to order as a complete one-off. Rediscovered within the drawers are several pieces of gunsmith paraphernalia, including an original gunpowder measuring spoon (now held in a small glass vial); a small printed canvas pouch containing shot; an empty shotgun cartridge and the Parisian owners business card with the name and address ‘Daniel Bougard - 28 Rue du Temple, Paris’. All of which we like to include with the desk as an important part of its history.

Size with extended leaves 220cm wide.