The London Gun
Friday 29th April 2022

The ‘London Gun’ was a true labour of love, comprising of over 1000 hours of engraving. The initial concept was to create an Exhibition Grade Gun, based upon the theme of ‘London World Trade’ with the River Thames being the link to the trade routes from the 18th and late 19th centuries. As a result, all of the inlaid metals are completed with gold, silver and, unusually copper – to represent the metals that were traded as currency.

Each lock plate features unique and contrasting scenes. The left lock plate depicts a highly detailed map of the London Docks from the late 18th century, featuring unique focal points: a gold inlaid eel, synonymous with their presence in the Thames murky waters. The right lock plate features Tower Bridge from a late 19th century reference, with the tower of London and gold inlaid raven. Both lock plates also feature copper inlaid poppies to represent the commercial laudanum trade, silver inlaid Tea flowers and finally Mulberry flowers, which were latterly used in silk production.

The trigger bow features Britannia’s shield, inspired from a penny of the era and the top lever, gold inlaid coffee beans surrounded by William Morris ornamentation. The trunnions feature a nautical compass and sextant.

The floorplate of the action once again features precious metal inlaid flora: Poppy flowers, tea leaves and tea plants surrounding a map of lower England with a gold inlaid line striking through the Greenwich Meridian Line.

Finally, the name on the action is stylised from a trade label from the 19th century and an original ‘Thames Boating’ scene is engraved onto a polished brush bright section of the top rib.

This gun currently resides within a private collection.

***

The initial concept of the exquisite ‘London Gun’ was based upon the theme of ‘London World Trade’ with the River Thames being the link to the trade routes from the late 18th and 19th centuries. All of the inlaid metals are completed with gold, silver and, unusually copper – to represent the metals that were traded as currency.

The floorplate of the action features precious metal inlaid flora: poppy flowers, tea leaves and tea plants surrounding a map of lower England with a gold inlaid line striking through the Greenwich Meridian Line.

To read more about this incredible work of art, click on the link below.

https://hollandandholland.com/news/the-london-map-gun