A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XV ORMOLU CHENETS
A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XV ORMOLU CHENETS
A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XV ORMOLU CHENETS
3 More
A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XV ORMOLU CHENETS
6 More
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK … Read more PRESIDENT CASIMIR-PERIER'S CAFFIERI CHENETS
A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XV ORMOLU CHENETS

ATTRIBUTED TO PHILIPPE CAFFIERI, CIRCA 1770

Details
A PAIR OF LATE LOUIS XV ORMOLU CHENETS
ATTRIBUTED TO PHILIPPE CAFFIERI, CIRCA 1770
Modelled as a seated dog and cat respectively, each on a draped and panelled base applied with laurel branches, raised on spirally-fluted toupie feet
15 in. (38 cm.) high
Provenance
Jean Casimir-Perier (1847-1907), President of France (1894-95), thence by descent to his wife until sold,
The sale of Madame X [Casimir-Perier], Paris, Hôtel Drouot, Me F. Lair-Dubreuil, 14 juin 1912, lot 43.
The collection of Monsieur et Madame Henry Viguier, sold Paris (sale no. 3), Hôtel Drouot, 27-28 March 1968, lot 25.
Literature
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Svend Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London, 1974, p. 357, fig. 223.
Hans Ottomeyer et Peter Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Die Bronzearbeiten des Spätbarock und Klassizismus, vol. 1, Munich, 1986, p. 201, fig. 3.14.12.
Reinier Baarsen, Paris 1650-1900, Decorative Arts in the Rijksmuseum, New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 2013, p. 394-397, cat. n° 95.
Special notice
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Lot Essay


The playful design of these finely chased chenets is derived from the celebrated 18th century model by Jacques Caffieri. Modelled with a seated dog and cat, the original model was recorded in a 1755 inventory taken from Jacques Caffieri's workshop. His son Philippe Caffieri supplied a pair of chenets featuring a cat and poodle, probably of the same model than the present lot, to the Prince de Condé in 1773, at a cost of 1,120 livres (S. Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London, 1974, p. 357 pl. 223). Three closely related examples, including one virtually identical dog with its original block feet, are illustrated in H. Ottomeyer and P. Proschel,Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. 1, Munich, 1986, p.201. Further examples were sold in the Collection of the Late Thelma Chrysler Foy, Parke Bernet, 13-16 May 1959, lot 293.

The present firedogs were in the collection of Jean Paul Pierre Casimir-Perier (1847-1907), who served as President of France from 1894 to 1895. He was born in Paris, the son of Auguste Casimir-Perier, the grandson of Casimir Pierre Perier, premier of king Louis Philippe, and the great grandson of Claude Périer, one of the founders of the Bank of France. In 1873 Perier married Hélène Perier-Vitet (1854-1912), a fellow member of the affluent Parisian bourgeoisie. Following his political retirement, they resided in the imposing château de Vizille, in Isère, where they frequently entertained members the capital's high society.

More from The Exceptional Sale

View All
View All