Lot Essay
The fine workmanship of these two examples show a certain similarity to the two barrel pistols and even though these examples have only one barrel the pistols could probably have been produced in the same workshop as the two barrels singing bird watches.
The possibility that the present two pistols are produced by either of the associations that J.F. Bautte had is quite strong.
Jean François Bautte (1772-1837) was not a watchmaker but was a born merchant and a very renowned manufacturer and merchant having several associations.
Working his way up from a messenger-boy to a partner with the case-maker Moulinié, the Company Moulinié, Bautte existed for nine years starting in 1793.
In 1804 they were joined by the watch-maker and merchant Jean Gabriel Moynier and the Company was called Moulinié, Bautte & Cie before being renamed Moulinié, Bautte and Moynier until the mid-20s when Bautte changed his associations again and continued to do so several times more.
It is very exciting and rare to see such fine and beautiful examples of workmanship but also only seldom can one find a pair of pistols of this kind.
The Chinese began buying watches in pairs because, as the European merchants would advise, these were delicate objects which would inevitably require attention and, should one have to be returned to Europe for repair, there would still be the other watch or pistol to use while the first was being restored. This was certainly an ingenious commercial approach on the part of the European merchants but, nonetheless, this would not have been sufficient to influence the Chinese client, as above all the main reason for this trend will remain the refined taste of the Chinese for symmetry and the wish to exhibit in their homes the symmetrically opposed motifs of these objects. It is also well known that most presents to the Emperor were given as a pair and often with a "vis-à-vis" design or motif.
The possibility that the present two pistols are produced by either of the associations that J.F. Bautte had is quite strong.
Jean François Bautte (1772-1837) was not a watchmaker but was a born merchant and a very renowned manufacturer and merchant having several associations.
Working his way up from a messenger-boy to a partner with the case-maker Moulinié, the Company Moulinié, Bautte existed for nine years starting in 1793.
In 1804 they were joined by the watch-maker and merchant Jean Gabriel Moynier and the Company was called Moulinié, Bautte & Cie before being renamed Moulinié, Bautte and Moynier until the mid-20s when Bautte changed his associations again and continued to do so several times more.
It is very exciting and rare to see such fine and beautiful examples of workmanship but also only seldom can one find a pair of pistols of this kind.
The Chinese began buying watches in pairs because, as the European merchants would advise, these were delicate objects which would inevitably require attention and, should one have to be returned to Europe for repair, there would still be the other watch or pistol to use while the first was being restored. This was certainly an ingenious commercial approach on the part of the European merchants but, nonetheless, this would not have been sufficient to influence the Chinese client, as above all the main reason for this trend will remain the refined taste of the Chinese for symmetry and the wish to exhibit in their homes the symmetrically opposed motifs of these objects. It is also well known that most presents to the Emperor were given as a pair and often with a "vis-à-vis" design or motif.