Lot Essay
This celebrated design was originally conceived by Pierre-François Feuchère (1737-1823), maître doreur in 1763. Three pairs were supplied to the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble in 1787 and also to the Cabinet de toilette de la Reine at Saint-Cloud in 1788. It is therefore fitting that the present finely cast examples be the work of the famed 19th century ébéniste and bronzier Henry Dasson (d. 1896), who specialized in copying pieces of the highest quality from the Garde-Meuble National and is distinguished for the particularly fine quality of his ormolu. Further appliques of this model by Dasson sold Christie's, New York, 27 September 2007, lots 18 & 19.