Lot Essay
Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), a student of Houdon and Pajou, estabished his firm in 1776. He was first noted in 1775 when collaborating with Louis Prieur, ciseleur et doreur du roi, after attending the Académie de Saint-Luc. In the 1780s he regularly supplied to the crown and to ébénistes such as Benneman. Briefly interrupted by the Revolution, during which he turned his factory into an arms factory, his firm continued until 1823 under his leadership before being handed over to other members of his family.
This mantel clock is closely related to drawings by Pierre-Philippe Thomire in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm (H 35/1874:13) and in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, (CD 4209), which use the same type of figure distribution and symbolism, although representing other allegories or mythologies.
A related mantel clock from the collection of Lady St. Brides was sold in these Rooms, 6 December 1979, lot 35, and a further model was sold anonymously, Sotheby's New York, 28 March 1992, lot 78
This mantel clock is closely related to drawings by Pierre-Philippe Thomire in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm (H 35/1874:13) and in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, (CD 4209), which use the same type of figure distribution and symbolism, although representing other allegories or mythologies.
A related mantel clock from the collection of Lady St. Brides was sold in these Rooms, 6 December 1979, lot 35, and a further model was sold anonymously, Sotheby's New York, 28 March 1992, lot 78