Lot Essay
This model relates closely to a set of appliques supplied for Marie-Antoinette's Grand Cabinet, also named the Salon des Jeux de la Reine, at Compigne. They were made, circa 1787, under the direction of the sculptor Jean Haur, from a model by Gilles-Franois Martin, cast by Forestier (either Etienne-Jean Forestier matre-fondeur-ciseleur or his brother Pierre-Auguste Forestier) and chased by Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Two pairs, until recently at Fontainebleau, have been reinstated in Marie-Antoinette's Salon des Jeux at Compigne. Meanwhile, another pair is in 'The James A. de Rothschild Collection' at Waddesdon Manor (no. 223, pp. 806-809) and a further two pairs are in the Wallace collection, London (see The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Furniture, 300-F366-9, pp.1426-1430).
A pair of 19th century wall-lights by Henry Dasson and Cie., which may have also been copies of the Compigne model (then at Fontainebleau), were auctioned in 1894 (sold Hotel Drouot, 10-12 December 1894, lot 88). Other examples of this model have sold Christie's, London, 30 September 2004, lot 34 and 24 September 2008, lot 85.
A pair of 19th century wall-lights by Henry Dasson and Cie., which may have also been copies of the Compigne model (then at Fontainebleau), were auctioned in 1894 (sold Hotel Drouot, 10-12 December 1894, lot 88). Other examples of this model have sold Christie's, London, 30 September 2004, lot 34 and 24 September 2008, lot 85.