Important Collector's Wristwatches an...

Hong Kong, Hotel Furama Kempinski, Jun 14, 1995

LOT 323

Not signed, attributed to Moulinié, Bautte & Cie, Geneva, made for the Chinese market, circa 1810. Very fine and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl and diamond-set, coinbined watch and perfume sprinkler in foret of a pistol.

HKD 0 - 0

C. The grip of translucent scarlet enamel over engine-turning with split-petrls set borders, the watch concealed on the end of the butt, the cover with rose-diamond set border, chased with decoration and centred with an emerald. Diamond-set back centred with an opal cabochon. Gold plates, finely chased with a dog on one face, a rabbit on the reverse and framed with rosediamonds. The barrel of cobalt blue translucent enamel over engine-turning, decorated with paillonne scroll design simulating damascene work. The perfume is spread out through the pistils of a gold lotus flower with enamelled petals, which is shot out of the barrel, released by the percussion of the diamond-set hammer when the trigger is depressed. D. White enamel with Roman numerals. Blued steel "spade" bands. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain bass threearm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece. In ver), good condition in a later red leather fitted box. Dim. 111 x 55 mm. Estima te : ****


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Notes

Although such pistols were usually made by pair, none other of this type, set with diamonds is known to exist. The pistol, sold by Antiquorum in Milano on Monday 28 November 1994, and forming a pair with that illustrated by F.X. Sturm and O. Patrizzi in Watches of Fantasy, plate No. 26 and on the front of the coloured dust-jacket, was signed by Moulinie, Bautte & Cie, Geneva and enables to attribute this one to the sanie makers. Other pistols of this type are described in different books: one from the Hans Wilsdorf collection, by Alfred Chapuis in Montres et érmauux de Genève, page 187 and one in Watclres and Clocks in the Sir David Salornons Collection, by G. Daniels and 0. Markarian, Tel Aviv, 1980, page 154. By that Lime, Bautte was the most important dealer of Geneva, Ruskin in Praerita (Tire Works of Ruskin, Vol. 35, Praerita, page 325) reports with humour this story, about the celebrated dealer: A visit to Bauttc's tuas made with trepidation, as if one was going to sec one's banker. Hardlrt an indication on the building; a simple brass plate at the sicle of the Harrow, vaulted entrance. The aller/ gave onto a courtyard resembling a cloister, and a large open staircase, vide enough for two people, led you to the green gate. There you paused to pluck up courage before enterrrrg. Tire motu was not large and had only one counter in a corner. Nothing was displayed on titis couiner behind which two trusted ernployces attended. At the back, close to the window, was one of the pends of the bouse at bis desk, Mr. Bautte, bis son or bis partner. Then one had to say what one tuante(' and to be decisive. In Bantte's chop, nothing was laid out to ternpt the eyes. You wantcd a bracelet, a brooch, a plain or an enamelled watch, seren ly a choice was laid before you. There were neither large stalles, nor flasinijewels, but fine work, made of the purest gold, enamels remarkable for their colours, ail showing a certain "finesse Bauttesque", interlaced garlands which an experienced eye recognised as being in the style of Paris or London. These items, of modest price, would lest lifetime. One vent azoay front Bantte's with the feeling of having accomplished a duty, and certain of possessing an abject of value. In 1797, Bautte took as partner the case-maker Moulinié and the firm Moulinié & Bautte in 1804 was joined by the watchmaker Jean Gabriel Moynier. The name of the Company then became: Moulinié, Bautte & Cie., before being renamed Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier.