The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 421

Attributed to Moulinié, Bautte & Cie, Geneva, circa 1806.Magnificent and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl- diamond- and emerald-set, combined watch and perfume sprinkler in form of a flintlock pistol, made for the Near and Middle Eastern market, with matching key and later leather fitted box.

CHF 130,000 - 160,000

USD 75,000 - 95,000

Sold: CHF 344,500

C. The grip of translucent scarlet enamel on a flinqué ground, the borders set with half pearls. Gold plates, finely chased with a dog on one side and a rabbit on the reverse, are framed with diamonds. The barrel of cobalt blue translucent enamel over a flinqué ground with a gold scroll design simulating damascene work, and finished by a ring of diamonds. The gold engraved hammer set with two large diamonds in the centre. The perfume is released through the pistils of a gold lotus flower with reand white champlevé enamelled petals, which is shot out of the barrel. The watch is concealed in the end of the butt, which is decorated with diamond surrounds centred on the front by a large emerald and on the back by an opal, two gold chains with loose ring. D. White enamel with radial Roman chapters, outer minute divisions. Blued-steel 'spearhead' hands. M. 15 mmo, gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, continental cock perced and engraved.Length 111 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 408-409.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Cocking the hammer sets up the mechanism, at the same time lowering the trigger. When the trigger is pressed, the hammer descends, and the lotus flower pops out of the barrel, its petals opening and the perfume being sprinkled out.Although not signed the pistol is almost identical to examples which are signed (F.X. Sturm and Osvaldo Patrizzi in 'Watches of Fantasy', plate No. 26, and the matching one from the same pair sold by Antiquorum, Milano, 28 November 1994). This enables us to attribute this one to the same makers, Moulinié, Bautte Lot Cie, a company that existed between 1804 and 1808.A similar piece in the Hans Wilsdorf collection, by Alfred Chapuis in 'Montres et émaux de Genève', page 187, an other is pictured in 'Watches and Clocks in the Sir David Salomons Collection', by G. Daniels and O. Markarian, Tel Aviv, 1980, page 154.