A MONUMENTAL PAIR OF LATE EMPIRE ORMOLU, PATINATED-BRONZE AND MARBLE TWELVE-LIGHT CANDELABRA

These monumental candelabra, stamped 'THOMIRE A PARIS' are characteristic of the oeuvre of the foremost Parisian manufacturer of gilt bronzes in the early 19th century. Trained as a sculptor under Houdon, Pierre-Philippe Thomire was apprenticed to the ciseleur Pierre Gouthière. Thomire established his workshop in 1776 and in 1783 he worked at the Sèvres porcelain factory providing ormolu mounts. He established a new bronze business under the name Thomire, Duterme et Cie in 1804, was made ciseleur de l’Empereur in 1809 and retired in 1823. Modelled as classically-draped maidens, this popular model continued to be produced by his workshop until the late 1830s.