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Lot Essay
These centrepieces derive from a design attributed to the workshop of Pierre-François Feuchère (d.1832) now in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (ill. in H. Ottomeyer P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 384, pl. 5.16.5). From a prominent family of gilders, Feuchère became a ciseleur-doreur in 1767 and, along with his father, supplied gilt bronzes to the Royal family. The family firm survived the Revolution and continued successfully through the Empire and Restauration periods.
Examples of this model have also been attributed to Thomire & Cie, the firm founded by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, one of the most celebrated fondeur-doreurs of the Empire. A closely related set of four centerpieces, from an extensive princely surtout de table attributed to Thomire et Cie, reputedly from the collection of Louis Philippe at the Palais Royal, was sold by descent from King Vittorio Emanuele at Sotheby's, London, 13 June 2001, lot 397.
Examples of this model have also been attributed to Thomire & Cie, the firm founded by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, one of the most celebrated fondeur-doreurs of the Empire. A closely related set of four centerpieces, from an extensive princely surtout de table attributed to Thomire et Cie, reputedly from the collection of Louis Philippe at the Palais Royal, was sold by descent from King Vittorio Emanuele at Sotheby's, London, 13 June 2001, lot 397.