Eugene Heer in "Der Neue Stockel" lists J.D. Hartmann as active around 1870 and as probably the son of Immanuel David Hartmann who was active in Hamburg in 1840-1860. This exhibition quality rifle is certainly high quality enough to have been displayed at the Austrian International Exposition in Vienna in 1873 and has extensive ornamentation including gold, silver, and niello accents and a variety of game scenes as well as extensive scroll and floral engraving, and detailed carving on the highly figured stock. The etched Damascus barrel has a thin gold band at the muzzle, additional gold and niello inlays on and around the blade front sight and the adjustable notch rear sight, "J.D. Hartmann nin Hamburg" in gold inlaid script with gold scroll accents on top of the breech section flanked by silver and niello scroll patterns on the upper flats, one broad and one thin gold band at the muzzle, and a scroll engraved breech. The bottom of the barrel has what appears to be "EA" twice along with "3" on the breech plug. The rifle has adjustable double set triggers. The upper tang has a gold rampant stag. The lock is mounted into the stock with wood surrounding it rather than fitting up against the breech and has an engraved bestial hammer with gold in the backgrounds and a gold doe in a detailed scene on the tail of the lock in a wooded scene as well as a rotating hammer stall safety. The side plate is a scrolling sea serpent with golden teeth, scales, and accents. The trigger guard bow has two silver/niello hounds in an alpine scene. The trigger plate finial has a small gold dog's face and gilded backgrounds for the other engraving. The patch box has a running stag in a wooded scene with a gilded background. The buttplate has a gold fox scene with foliage and scroll engraving with gilded and silver accents. The highly figured stock has a sloped forend tip terminating in a horn cap, bright nickel-silver escutcheons, scroll borders around the checkering on the forend and wrist, a ghoulish mask at the rear of the forend checkering, a hole from a peep sight behind the upper tang, scroll carving at the end of the large cheekpiece, and a detailed wyvern/bipedal dragon carved in raised relief along the bottom.

Extremely fine with crisp engraving, bright gold, aged silver, dark niello, a smooth silver-gray along the barrel along with distinct twist patterns, mostly gray or brown patina on the other metal components, repaired hammer, minor oxidation, and minimal overall wear. The stock is very fine and has highly attractive figure, crisp carving and checkering, a very minor chip to the right of the upper tang, and minor scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. This is an extraordinary example of mid-19th century art!