THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 6 APRIL 2025

THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR TIMED ON-LINE AUCTlON 6 APRIL 2025 21 31 18th/19th century cemetery gun Flintlock. Rare. Condition: Corroded, but could restore well. The cemetery guns kept body snatchers away from cemetery grounds and discouraged them from digging up dead bodies. The gun would be set near the foot of the grave and a series of tripwires would swing the gun in the appropriate direction when triggered, and fire upon the unsuspecting thieves. The gun would be set up each evening by the graveyard staff and disengaged every morning. The need for such an elaborate arrangement for the protection of the dead arose in the 18th century when cadavers were in high demand in medical schools but short in supply. Back then, the only legal supply of corpses were those condemned to death and dissection by the courts. Estimate €1,000-€1,500 (approx £830-£1,250) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 31