Beautiful Silver and Coral mounted Algerian Long Musket dated 1889

A beautiful example of an Algerian Long Miquelet musket. The stock profusely decorated with pierced and engraved silver throughout and applied coral in areas. The silver breech decoration engraved with a panel of arabic probably the makers name. A further large panel of calligraphy to the butt region on a silver plaque including the owners name, various numerals and the date, and koranic text. The lockplate and hammer inlaid with panels of elaborately decorated brass and silver. Near the breech there are two inlaid makers marks with writing and a small lion, further engraving and silver inlaid scrolls to the barrel in this area. The barrel is nearly hidden by a series of cappucines in silver repousse, and silver floral roundels are inlaid into the wooden stock between each band. Similar guns can be seen in the Tareq Rajab Museum in Kuwait, and are described in Robert Elgoods book ‘Firearms or the Islamic world’.