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Lot Essay
Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751 - 1843) studied under both the 18th century sculptors Pajou and Houdon as well as the celebrated bronzier Gouthière. By the early 19th century he had become renowned for his gilt-bronze mounts, clocks, candelabra and other table decorations, his firm being one of the most successful of the Empire period. The firm continued to thrive even after Thomire's most celebrated patron, Napoleon I, had left France, and so it did well into the 1850s. From 1819 the company was known as 'Thomire & Compagnie'.
From 1789, Thomire incorporated Sèvres porcelain into his objects, but increasingly glass was used to compliment his productions. Related centres de table featuring Thomire's signature grape and vine leaf borders include a pair sold Christie's, London, 6 December 2007, lot 113 (£19,700 including premium), and another sold Sotheby's, London, 9 June 2004, lot 144 (£28,000 including premium). The bases of the tazze are comparable to a pair formerly in the collection of King Umberto II of Italy was sold Christie's, London, 9 December 2004, lot 44 (£20,315 including premium), while a further pair now in the Fine Arts Museum, San Francisco is illustrated in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, 1986, p.387, pl. 5.16.14. A garniture of three, also with the trumpet shaped socles, were sold Christie’s London, 8 December 2011, lot 205. The central epergne is more closely related to a pair sold Christie’s, New York, 24 May 2001, lot 122 and an illustrated in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Ibid, p. 385.
From 1789, Thomire incorporated Sèvres porcelain into his objects, but increasingly glass was used to compliment his productions. Related centres de table featuring Thomire's signature grape and vine leaf borders include a pair sold Christie's, London, 6 December 2007, lot 113 (£19,700 including premium), and another sold Sotheby's, London, 9 June 2004, lot 144 (£28,000 including premium). The bases of the tazze are comparable to a pair formerly in the collection of King Umberto II of Italy was sold Christie's, London, 9 December 2004, lot 44 (£20,315 including premium), while a further pair now in the Fine Arts Museum, San Francisco is illustrated in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, 1986, p.387, pl. 5.16.14. A garniture of three, also with the trumpet shaped socles, were sold Christie’s London, 8 December 2011, lot 205. The central epergne is more closely related to a pair sold Christie’s, New York, 24 May 2001, lot 122 and an illustrated in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Ibid, p. 385.