This 'athénienne' tripod burner with masonic emblems and serpent-entwined coil relates to an engraving by J.J. Flipart, published in 1765 under the title of La Vertueuse Athénienne and taken from a painting executed in 1763 by Joseph-Marie Vien, which was originally entitled Une Prêtresse qui brûle de l'encens sur un trépied (S. Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London, 1974, p.370, plate 370). A related model with verde antico marble vase, almost certainly executed by Pierre Gouthière and supplied by Dominique Daguerre to George, Prince of Wales for Carlton House, was exhibited in 'Carlton House, The Past Glories of George IV's Palace', Exhibition Catalogue, 1991-2, n.70, pp.115 and 209. Another related stand by Gouthière, with red jasper urn, is in the Wallace Collection (F292). This was probably commissioned by the duc d'Aumont, who instructed François Joseph Bélanger to establish a studio at the hôtel des Menus Plaisirs where Gouthière was employed on 'nombreux projects de vases coupes cassolettes' (F.J.B Watson, Wallace Collection Catalogues, Furnitue, London, 1956, p.143).