A PAIR OF LOUIS XVIII ORMOLU CHENETS

This finely chased pair of chenets is based on a celebrated design by Francois-Joseph Belanger, most probably for the salon of the Comte d’Artois’ famous pavilion, the Chateau de Bagatelle. Variations of this model (the frieze patinated, blued, silvered or ormolu) were produced for members of the French royal family by one of the greatest ciseleurs-fondeurs of the Louis XVI period Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813/14). Previously attributed to Claude-Jean Pitoin, examples of the model may be found in international museums; a pair with a ‘blued’ frieze formerly in the Marquis of Hertford’s collection is currently in the Cleveland Museum of Art (1944.126) and another with an ormolu frieze is currently in the Queen’s apartments at Versailles, stamped with garde meuble inventory number ‘7870’ (modern inv. OA 5259.1 and formerly in the Louvre, illustrated H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel, et. al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986 vol. 1, p. 313, fig. 345).
This lot is an excellent example of the revival of Louis XVI bronzes d’ameublement in the restauration period. With the return of the Bourbons to the throne of France in 1815 it is no surprise that this model, originally conceived for Louis XVIII when he was Comte d’Artois, should also experience a comeback.