AN EMPIRE ORMOLU CENTREPIECE

The present centrepiece relates closely to the oeuvre of the celebrated ciseleur-doreur Pierre Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) and several variations on this model - featuring putti or female figures holding aloft a pierced basket - supplied by him are illustrated in H. Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Münich, 1989, II, p. 384-387. Thomire trained as a sculptor under Houdon and was apprenticed to the foremost ciseleur Pierre Gouthière. He established his workshop in 1776 and worked at the Sèvres porcelain factory to provide ormolu mounts from 1783. He established a new business under the name ‘Thomire, Duterme et Cie’ in 1804, was made ciseleur de l’Empereur in 1809 and retired in 1823.