Guns made for the hands of an illustrious owner have added allure for collectors of antique firearms – particularly if those hands are royal, writes Gabriel Berner.
Holt’s auction on June 22 in Hammersmith Road, London, will offer such an item: a rifle built for King George IV (below).
The gun was made in Hanover by Tanner & Sohn and formed part of the enormous Schloss Marienburgh collection which was housed at Marienburg Castle, some 20 miles south of Hanover. The 19th century summer residence contained property descended from five British kings and electors of Hanover – Georges I to IV and William IV.