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Lot Essay
This centrepiece, almost certainly originally part of a large surtout de table, was a fashionable item of table ornamentation in the early 19th century. The changes to modern dining that came about with the adoption of service à la russe, in which each course was served separately, allowed for space on the dining-table for a garniture. The present example, ornamented with fruits, berries and musical instruments as symbols of festivities and food served at table, although unsigned, can be confidently attributed to one of the finest bronzier-ciseleurs of the Empire period, Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843). It has been suggested that this magnificent example of Thomire's work was possibly made for the Italian market, as the putti and overall composition are relatively romanticised, with less emphasis on the 'Antique' usually so prominent in Empire designs.
Thomire worked initially for the renowned bronziers Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813) and Jean-Louis Prieur (d. circa 1785-1790), ciseleur-doreur du roi. Thomire established his own workshop in 1776 and quickly established a reputation for finely-chased gilt-bronzes, supplying mounts for the bniste Jacob-Desmalter. Thomire's workshop continued through the Revolution and in 1804 he purchased the business of Martin-Eloy Lignereux, a marchand-mercier. This greatly expanded his establishment, as it allowed him to sell furniture and Sèvres porcelain that could be mounted with ormolu from his workshops in addition to the wide range of objects it already produced, such as candelabra, surtouts de table, clocks, vases and chenets. Thomire's atelier soon gained the patronage of Napoleon, who awarded him the title of ciseleur de l'Empereur in 1809 and fournisseur de leurs majesties (Furniture Suppliers to their Majesties) two years later. Thomire relinquished control of the business to his son-in-law in 1823, and the firm continued to flourish for almost thirty more years until ceasing to trade in 1852.
A related example to the offered lot, lacking the removable candelabrum, can be seen in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, Munich, 1986, p. 384, fig 5.16.4.
Thomire worked initially for the renowned bronziers Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813) and Jean-Louis Prieur (d. circa 1785-1790), ciseleur-doreur du roi. Thomire established his own workshop in 1776 and quickly established a reputation for finely-chased gilt-bronzes, supplying mounts for the bniste Jacob-Desmalter. Thomire's workshop continued through the Revolution and in 1804 he purchased the business of Martin-Eloy Lignereux, a marchand-mercier. This greatly expanded his establishment, as it allowed him to sell furniture and Sèvres porcelain that could be mounted with ormolu from his workshops in addition to the wide range of objects it already produced, such as candelabra, surtouts de table, clocks, vases and chenets. Thomire's atelier soon gained the patronage of Napoleon, who awarded him the title of ciseleur de l'Empereur in 1809 and fournisseur de leurs majesties (Furniture Suppliers to their Majesties) two years later. Thomire relinquished control of the business to his son-in-law in 1823, and the firm continued to flourish for almost thirty more years until ceasing to trade in 1852.
A related example to the offered lot, lacking the removable candelabrum, can be seen in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, Munich, 1986, p. 384, fig 5.16.4.