Important collector's watches, wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Apr 13, 2002

LOT 66

?Scentimental? Duel Attributed to Moulinié, Bautte & Cie, Geneva, circa 1806. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel pearl-set combined watch and perfume sprinkler in the form of a flintlock pistol, made for the Chinese market.

CHF 150,000 - 200,000

EUR 100,000 - 140,000 / USD 90,000 - 120,000

Sold: CHF 421,500

C. The grips of translucent scarlet enamel over flinqué, the borders set with half pearls. Gold plates, finely chased with a hound on one side and a rabbit on the other, framed with half pearls. The barrels of translucent cobalt blue champlevé enamel over a flinqué ground, with a raised gold scroll design simulating damascene work. The perfume is released through the pistils of gold lotus flowers with enameled petals, which are shot out of the barrel. The act of cocking the hammer winds the mechanism, also lowering the trigger. The watch is concealed in the end of the butt, the spring-loaded front and back covers with half pearl-set borders, decorated with small gold rosettes centered by half pearls. Short gold double chain suspension terminated with a small ring. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 15 mm ø, gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, continental cock pierced and engraved. Dim. Length 111 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-51

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-17-01

Good

Slightly spotted

HANDS Original

Notes

Although not signed, the pistols are almost identical to examples which are signed (F.X. Sturm and O. Patrizzi in "Watches of Fantasy", plate No. 26, and the matching one from the same pair sold by Antiquorum, Milano, 28 November 1994), enabling us to attribute this one to the same makers: Moulinié, Bautte & Cie. Similar pieces were sold by Antiquorum on March 31 and April 1, 2001, The Sandberg Watch Collection, lots 49, 405, 406, 421. A similar piece is part of the Wilsdorf Collection, published in ?Rolex, Montres et Emaux de Genève?, page 187.