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Lot Essay
This ormolu-mounted ivory centrepiece is described in Radix de Sainte Foy's sale, 22 April 1782 as:-
"YVOIRE
Un Vase d'yvoire posé sur un Autel de même matière; deux jeunes femmes nues en bronze doré le décorent de guirlandes de roses qu'elles attachent à des têtes de béliers, qui sont à chaque côté du vase, enrichi du haut d'une gorge en bronze, & du bas d'un enfilage de perles; la base de l'Autel est aussi en bronze à feuilles de persil; & le tout est posé sur deux marches en marbre blanc. Hauteur 9 pouces 6 lignes, diamètre 9 pouces."
It is very likely that Radix de Sainte Foy commissioned Gouthière. As the duchesse de Mazarin's lover, Radix de Sainte Foy was related to Gouthière as he was the heir to some of the objects Gouthière supplied to the duchesse.
Purchased by the celebrated collector Lenoir-Dubreuil in the sale following the bankruptcy of Radix de Sainte Foy, this petit monument antique, as it was described, and many other objects and pieces of important furniture were seized from him at the beginning of the Revolution. It was subsequently sold again.
As mentioned in her famous carnets (account books), Madame Geoffrin, famous collector and patronne des Encyclopédistes, acquired in 1767:-
'Prix de différentes choses dont je veux me souvenir: un petit monument antique d'ivoire, de marbre et de bronze doré fait par Gouthière, 600 livres'.
It will be impossible to know if Madame Goeffrin was the initiator of this fashionable model. It seems likely that the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Feuillet created the design, as we know that another identical monument not in ivory but in marble was attributed to him in the sale of the collections of Baron de Saint Julien, 24 June 1784, lot 173.
Madame du Barry was known to have a garniture comprising a monument and a pair of ormolu-mounted ewers.
One other example of this model is known:-
Harenc de Presle, sold 30 April 1795, lot 185 described as an ormolu-mounted white marble monument.
"YVOIRE
Un Vase d'yvoire posé sur un Autel de même matière; deux jeunes femmes nues en bronze doré le décorent de guirlandes de roses qu'elles attachent à des têtes de béliers, qui sont à chaque côté du vase, enrichi du haut d'une gorge en bronze, & du bas d'un enfilage de perles; la base de l'Autel est aussi en bronze à feuilles de persil; & le tout est posé sur deux marches en marbre blanc. Hauteur 9 pouces 6 lignes, diamètre 9 pouces."
It is very likely that Radix de Sainte Foy commissioned Gouthière. As the duchesse de Mazarin's lover, Radix de Sainte Foy was related to Gouthière as he was the heir to some of the objects Gouthière supplied to the duchesse.
Purchased by the celebrated collector Lenoir-Dubreuil in the sale following the bankruptcy of Radix de Sainte Foy, this petit monument antique, as it was described, and many other objects and pieces of important furniture were seized from him at the beginning of the Revolution. It was subsequently sold again.
As mentioned in her famous carnets (account books), Madame Geoffrin, famous collector and patronne des Encyclopédistes, acquired in 1767:-
'Prix de différentes choses dont je veux me souvenir: un petit monument antique d'ivoire, de marbre et de bronze doré fait par Gouthière, 600 livres'.
It will be impossible to know if Madame Goeffrin was the initiator of this fashionable model. It seems likely that the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Feuillet created the design, as we know that another identical monument not in ivory but in marble was attributed to him in the sale of the collections of Baron de Saint Julien, 24 June 1784, lot 173.
Madame du Barry was known to have a garniture comprising a monument and a pair of ormolu-mounted ewers.
One other example of this model is known:-
Harenc de Presle, sold 30 April 1795, lot 185 described as an ormolu-mounted white marble monument.