Pair Of Large Chiseled And Gilded Bronze Centerpieces Attr. To Thomire

An imposingpair of finely chiseled and gilded bronze centerpieces, attributed toPierre Thomire (Paris, 1751-1843), composed of three female figuresdraped in the antique style, arranged in a tripod and leaning back toback. They embody the legacy of classical statuary rediscovered inthe 18th century and glorified under the Empire. The ternaryrepetition evokes harmony, balance, and stability, values ​​dearto the Neoclassical decorative vocabulary.

Each holds atorch topped with a flower cone. This decorative lexicon refers tolight, knowledge, and triumphant clarity, symbols dear to thephilosophy of the Enlightenment and adopted by the Empire to exaltimperial grandeur. The torches, transformed into flowered horns andcrowned with removable bouquets, express both fertility andabundance. Behind their backs, above a central shaft, stands a largeopenwork basket decorated with cross-hatching.

Placed atthe top, it recalls the ancient motifs of canephora and was designedto hold flowers or table arrangements, becoming the visual andsymbolic centerpiece of the celebration.

The circularbases are decorated in relief with winged putti holding garlands offlowers, resting on a molded projection decorated with acanthusleaves, thus defining the lexicon of love, joy, and celebration.

Thus, thesecenterpieces combine in a single composition the themes of light,abundance, fertility, and joy, constituting a true allegory of socialharmony and aristocratic or imperial splendor.

Centerpiecesof this type were designed to adorn the grandest aristocratic tables,often made in pairs or as sets for palaces and private mansions.

Theperfectly preserved gilding reveals the subtlety of the carving andthe exceptional quality of the workmanship, characteristic of theThomire workshop. The upper elements of the torches, finished withdetachable bouquets, underline the technical and ornamentalrefinement of the whole.

This pair,with its exceptional dimensions (57 cm high), its decorativerichness, and the quality of its gilding, constitutes a rare andprestigious example of the art of chased and gilded bronze during theEmpire. It illustrates the technical and aesthetic mastery ofThomire, whose reputation extended throughout Europe and whosecreations are featured in royal and imperial collections.

Pierre-PhilippeThomire, a bronze-caster and founder, was one of the greatestParisian artisans of his time. Trained under Gouthière, he quicklybecame a purveyor to the court under Louis XVI, then worked forNapoleon I and the imperial aristocracy. His works, combiningmonumentality and refinement, mark the apogee of the Empire style andembody the excellence of French gilded bronze.

Pairs ofcenterpieces can be found in major museums such as the Louvre and theChâteau de Fontainebleau.

Pair of giltbronze centerpieces by Thomire, preserved at the Louvre Museum,Department of Decorative Arts, Paris.

A similar pair is preserved at the Château de Fontainebleau, in the Emperor's dining room.

Examples of comparablegoldsmithery and gilt bronzes can be found in: H. Ottomeyer & P.​​Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Die Bronzearbeiten desSpätbarock und Klassizismus, Munich, 1986.

Several have been sold atauction, with prices ranging between...

Monumental Empire periodcenterpiece, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, first quarter ofthe 19th century, sold at Christie's, Paris, November 17, 2010, lot146: €85,000 (estimate €75,000–100,000).

Bibliography

Hans Ottomeyer & Peter Pröschel, Vergilded Bronzes, The Bronze Works of the Baroque and Classical Period, Munich, Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1986.

Pierre Verlet, French Gilded Bronzes of the 18th Century, Paris, 1987.

Christian Baulez, “Thomire, Founder-Cutter,” Bulletin of the Society for the History of French Art, 1983.


Dimensions: Height: 57 cm – Width: 22 cm