Mystery Antique of the Week

Comments

November 9, 2011 at 8:56 am

(1) Joyce L. says:

Sometimes these decorative pistols were
cigarette lighters.

November 9, 2011 at 9:53 am

(2) Cnaan says:

Gun shaped clock and perfume bottle. Inside the barrel there is a perfume dispenser.
Very expensive!!!

November 9, 2011 at 11:32 am

(3) Newlyweds Guide Francesca says:

It looks like a gun but it seems like a clock. However, both of those answers seem too simple. Can’t wait to see what it is.

November 9, 2011 at 11:53 am

(4) carol says:

To state the obvious, looks like a gun shaped clock.(You’d need a pretty big watch pocket for this.) Going in a slightly different direction, maybe a koo-koo clock? something comes out of the barrel? Of course, I do like the cigerette lighter idea, too. Maybe it’s a “conversation piece” & does nothing. On the other hand, if it holds perfume, I can see a saloon girl pointing it at some fresh cowboy, & FAKE OUT!…blessing him with perfume. Can’t wait to find out.

November 9, 2011 at 12:55 pm

(5) MacQuid says:

Oh yes Barbara, bet you didn’t find this one in a local garage sale

As “Cnaan” mentions in his response above, it’s an extremely rare and important gold, enamel and pearl-set musical perfume-sprayer automaton… a miniature (4 5/16” = 11cm long when closed ) pistol shaped jewel that of course doesn’t actually shoot but instead has a perfume spraying flower – accompanied by music – slowly emerge from the barrel-end when triggered.

It’s one of the only 14 examples known to exist, and was produced circa 1805 by Mouliniè et Bautte or Bautte et Moynier, right here in Geneva Switzerland where I live.

When first they were produced and sold, each of these magnificent pieces was delivered as a set composed of a matching-pair.

In recent years, examples have “come under the hammer”, notably in Antiquorum’s auction sales (November 1994, March 2001, April 2001 and April 2002), the latter fetching 421,500 Swiss francs… and at Christie’s London in November 2006 fetching £344,000 ($654,632) to well exceed Christie’s £150,000 – £250,000 ($285,450 – $475,750) Estimate. BTW, the close proximity of these pieces coming onto the market reflects that original pairs were split up for sale. Of course, one or the other of those auctions may have been for the same piece, purchased for investment purposes and thereafter resold.

Known recent provenances of some of the pieces sold through these auctions include “The Palace Collections of Egypt” (originally acquired by King Farouk in March 1954) and The Sandberg Watch Collection.

Additionally, a similar piece has been part of the “Watches and Enamels of Geneva Collection” assembled by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf throughout the first half of the 20th century.

November 9, 2011 at 5:32 pm

(6) Sukhmandir Kaur says:

That’s some pistol too bad all pistols and hand guns don’t shoot flowers and perfume the world would be a far better happier and sweeter smelling place

November 16, 2011 at 6:27 am

(7) Susan says:

Fascinating information! It never fails to amaze me what people will pay for a rare and unique item.