Nicolas-Noël BOUTET (1761-1833), Director of the Versailles Manufactory (An II-1818) Beautiful flintlock shotgun, by BOUTET, Directeur Artiste at Versailles. Presumed to have been offered by Emperor Napoleon I to André MASSENA. With double barrel in blued table and gold damascened, on the first third, of foliage and fantastic animals with fish tails, silver sights, also gold damascened around the rim, as well as the muzzles of the barrels; each barrel hallmarked with the thunders of four hallmarks: "BOUTET", "B C", "N B" and "N B" interlaced in an octagon; left side signed: "Manufacture de Versailles", right side: "Boutet Directeur Artiste - 29". Cal. 14.5 mm; cut-out and engraved breech tail. Round-bodied locks, signed: "Boutet à Versailles"; slightly engraved swan-neck hammers; gold-plated scroll basins; engraved battery backs. Fine chased silver (950) fittings: - trigger guard adorned with animal heads and a spider's web; at the front of the trigger guard, a winged devil or deity carrying a basket of fruit on his head; - baguette entrance featuring an imperial eagle with outstretched wings, wearing a crown surmounted by a star, all resting on a glory; - bedplate chased on both sides with two winged dragons with swan heads, drinking from a basin; on the top return, a fantastic figure with two fish tails, wearing a cuirass, the head features two large animal ears and two horns; - Heel stamped and engraved with the dedication: "L'EMPEREUR NAPOLÉON au Maréchal Masséna Prince d'Essling Duc de Rivoli"; silver oval thumbpiece, monogrammed: "AM" surmounted by a comtale crown (?) and surrounded by an ebony band. Beautiful cheek stock in veined walnut, checkered grip forming rhombuses, finished with a carved monster head with ebony horns and wings (or fins), on the side of the trigger guard are carved ebony laurel branches. Fanon ramrod, silver tip. First Empire period (1804-1814). Barrel length: 81 cm - Total length: 122 cm - Gross weight: 2.923 g. Some wear, scratches and knocks, notably on the stock; right hammer with a few cracks and splits on the gooseneck; one pitting on the barrel, in the middle, on the band. POINÇONS : First Province title for 1798-1809; large department guarantee: "88" (Seine-inférieure); silversmith: "J. M." surmounted by a star and below by seven dots in a triangle (unidentified). MASSÉNA André, Duc de Rivoli, Prince d'Essling, Marshal of the Empire on May 19, 1804, (b. Nice, May 6, 1758 † Paris, April 4, 1817). Appointed Major General by the Representatives of the People, December 20, 1793; confirmed in his rank by the Committee of Public Salvation, August 29, 1794; appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Helvetia, December 9, 1798; appointed Provisional Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the Danube and Helvetia, March 31, April 9; confirmed in his command by the Executive Directory, April 29, 1799; appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Italy, November 23, 1799; established his headquarters in Nice, January 17, 1800... General-in-chief of the combined armies of Italy and the reserve, June 24; awarded a saber of honor, October 8, 1801; deputy of the Seine to the legislative body, from July 28, 1803 to December 31, 1807; marshal of the Empire, May 19, 1804; grand eagle and head of the 14th cohort of the Legion of Honor, February 2, 1805; commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy, in place of JOURDAN, August 30, 1805... Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Naples, January 9, 1806... Duke of Rivoli, March 19, 1808; Commander of the Army of the Rhine, February 23, 1809; participated in the battles of Eckmühl, Essling and Wagram (1808/1809); Prince of Essling, January 31, 1810; Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Portugal (1810/1811); Governor of the 8th Military Division, Toulon, April 16, 1813... Pair de France, June 2, 1815; Commander-in-Chief of the Paris National Guard, June 22-July 8, 1815; Governor of Paris; replaced when the BOURBONS returned; had been granted letters of great naturalization by the Chamber during the First Restoration.