Magnificent Ottoman Balkan Miquelet lock musket ‘Boyliya’ with gold and fabric

A beautiful Ottoman Balkan ‘Boyliya’ gun or musket surviving in superb condition. This longgun is clearly a high quality piece and would have belonged to a man of some rank or standing, the piece is decorated profusely throughout and retains both its embroidered fabric cover to the stock and its original tassel ornament.

The stock is covered entirely with metal finely chiselled with designs having gold elements highlighted to create a stunning visual effect.Multiple silver cappucine bands holding the barrel to the stock, again very finely chiselled. The steel barrel of fine quality, fluted to the top section with chiselled banded decoration and some engraved writing? along its top. The lock of miquelet turkish form in good working condition and retaining its original flint, the faces applied with engraved brass, and the top edge set with three coral stones. The sleeve to the butt is of velvet embroidered in ‘boteh’ designs in metallic silver/gold thread, the tassels made from coloured silks. The fabric pad covering still remaining to the actual butt to provide a comfortable hold when firing. The gun also has its steel ramrod, and gilt brass fixings to take a strap to one side.

A rare opportunity to find such a complete example in excellent condition, circa 1800. 153 cms long approximately. The Balkans at this period were and had been under Ottoman Turkish control for many years, this style of gun, while very similar to the Turkish types is typically found in the Western Balkan regions and was probably used by a specific ethnic group.  Middle east