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Lot Essay
This hippocamp pastille burner is of identical model to that in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, where it is displayed in the State Dining Room. This latter burner was purchased from Hamlet in 1827 for £105.
A further pair of this model is in the Hermitage, Russia (inv. nos.E1585-6). The Hermitage burners may well have formed part of the Parisian purchases of Paul I of Russia. In 1798 the Emperor had lifted a ban on all imports from France for a special order of bronzes to be imported into the country for furnishing his palaces. Six foreign merchants including Defarge were involved in acquisitions for the Russian ruler of more than 500 exceptional ormolu objets d'art. Most of these were bought on the French market. For further discussion on this extraordinary transaction and some of the imported pieces see I. Zeck, 'Bronzes d'ameublement et meubles français achetés par Paul Ier pour le château Saint-Michael de Saint-Pétersbourg en 1798-1799', Bulletin de La Société de l'Histoire de L'Art Français, 1994, pp. 141-157). In all, twelve shipments arrived at the Russian court.
A related model forming a clock, signed by Thomire, was presented by Nicholas I of Russia to Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry in Saint-Petersburg in 1837. This latter clock, which has three horses supporting the upper part, is illustrated in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p.362, fig.5.121.1. A further example of the latter model is in the château de Fontainebleau. A later and somewhat inferior example of the clock model, signed by Charles Bertault (recorded in the rue Vieille du Temple between 1812-30), entirely gilded, was sold from the Barbara Piasecka Johnson Collection, Sotheby's Paris, 15 October 2003, lot 105.
We are extremely grateful to Sir Hugh Roberts, Director of the Royal Collection, for his assistance.
A further pair of this model is in the Hermitage, Russia (inv. nos.E1585-6). The Hermitage burners may well have formed part of the Parisian purchases of Paul I of Russia. In 1798 the Emperor had lifted a ban on all imports from France for a special order of bronzes to be imported into the country for furnishing his palaces. Six foreign merchants including Defarge were involved in acquisitions for the Russian ruler of more than 500 exceptional ormolu objets d'art. Most of these were bought on the French market. For further discussion on this extraordinary transaction and some of the imported pieces see I. Zeck, 'Bronzes d'ameublement et meubles français achetés par Paul Ier pour le château Saint-Michael de Saint-Pétersbourg en 1798-1799', Bulletin de La Société de l'Histoire de L'Art Français, 1994, pp. 141-157). In all, twelve shipments arrived at the Russian court.
A related model forming a clock, signed by Thomire, was presented by Nicholas I of Russia to Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry in Saint-Petersburg in 1837. This latter clock, which has three horses supporting the upper part, is illustrated in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p.362, fig.5.121.1. A further example of the latter model is in the château de Fontainebleau. A later and somewhat inferior example of the clock model, signed by Charles Bertault (recorded in the rue Vieille du Temple between 1812-30), entirely gilded, was sold from the Barbara Piasecka Johnson Collection, Sotheby's Paris, 15 October 2003, lot 105.
We are extremely grateful to Sir Hugh Roberts, Director of the Royal Collection, for his assistance.