AN EMPIRE ORMOLU TWELVE-LIGHT CANDELABRUM

Thomire was the most important Parisian manufacturer of gilt bronzes in the early 19th century. He trained as a sculptor under Houdon and was apprenticed to the ciseleur Pierre Gouthière. In 1776, he set up business and from 1783 worked at the Sèvres porcelain factory to provide ormolu mounts. He established a new bronze business under the name Thomire, Duterme et Cie in 1804, was entitled ciseleur de l’Empereur in 1809 and retired in 1823.
The present exceptional large centrepiece was intended to form part of a surtout de table, the elaborate dining service which was displayed on a long mirror-lined plateau. This form of surtout was developed in France and, in the wake of Napoleon’s conquests, it was exported all over Europe. There are many variations supplied by Pierre Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) to the Imperial family and other European courts (see for examples H. Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Münich, 1989, II, p. 382-389).
The remainder of the surtout to which this centrepiece belongs has not been identified. The basket on top is intended for an arrangement of flowers. The dancing figures, representing Ceres, Flo...