Pair Of Vases With Lids, Made Of Gray Porphyry And Bronze, Attributed To Pierre-philippe Thomire

An extraordinary and extremely rare pair of monumental vases in gray porphyry of exceptional quality, embellished with an opulent bronze mount finely chiseled and gilded with mercury, attributable to Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751–1843), the most celebrated French bronze artist and chaser of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The set represents one of the finest examples of French decorative arts in the Empire style, where the monumentality of the porphyry blends with the extraordinary refinement of the bronze work. The bodies of the vases, carved from magnificent gray porphyry with a compact and perfectly uniform texture, are embellished with a sumptuous gilded bronze mount characterized by chiseling of the highest caliber. On the central panel, imposing faun masks stand out, masterfully modeled with great sculptural and expressive power; the long, flowing beards, the vine leaves, and the bunches of grapes crowning the faces are executed with a precision and depth of engraving characteristic of the finest Parisian works of the era. The masks are connected by an elegant openwork frieze composed of plant tendrils, volutes, and cherubs supporting a central medallion, creating a refined interplay of solid and void spaces. The lower part of the vase is adorned with a wreath of finely chiseled acanthus leaves, while the foot rests on a quadrangular porphyry base finished with rich gilded bronze molding. The lid, which is completely removable, features a precious band decorated with laurel leaves and is topped by an elegant pinecone-shaped knob—a symbol of eternity and fertility—carved and chiseled with extraordinary precision. Lifting the lid reveals an interior entirely finished in gilded bronze, further evidence of the exceptionally high quality of the craftsmanship. The exceptional quality of the casting, gilding, and—above all—the chiseling of the bronze, combined with the choice of a material as prestigious as it is rare—porphyry—allows this important pair to be attributed to the works of Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Napoleon Bonaparte’s official bronze castor and supplier to the most prestigious European courts. Works of this caliber were intended exclusively for the most important aristocratic and imperial palaces and today represent an extremely rare category on the international art market. Dimensions: height 67 cm; maximum width from one faun’s head to the other 33 cm.