James Willmore was appointed Gunmaker-in-Ordinary to George II in 1740, receiving lodgings in Whitehall, although in the same post under George III he accepted an annual allowance in lieu of a residence. He was one of the earliest gunmakers to develop the rifled barrel. Here he was also experimenting with a capped and hinged priming powder reservoir, which has been incorporated into the lock behind the frizzen, and with a ‘swamped’ barrel to improve the velocity of the shot. RCIN 61485 shows the most advanced rococo decoration of any shotgun in the Royal Collection, displaying an engraved trophy of game, raffle leaves, shells and rocaille scrolls.

Text adapted from The First Georgians; Art and Monarchy 1714 - 1760, London, 2014.