A Parisian empire gilt-bronze table centrepiece
Chased fire-gilt bronze, comprised of several connected parts, the base with a wooden plaque to stabilise the central screw. Designed as a central pierced bowl supported by three putti on a base decorated with winged torches in relief. H 49 cm.
Ca. 1815 - 20, presumably based on a design by Pierre-François Feuchère, production attributed to either Feuchère or Thomire et Cie.
This opulent table centrepiece follows a lithograph published by Ottomeyer and Pröschel and kept in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. The engraving is presumed to have been based on a drawing by Feuchère. We know very little about Pierre-François Feuchère's life, except that he became a master gilder in 1763 and was then able to successfully take over the running of his family's firm. He quickly became one of the most important suppliers of luxury items in fire-gilt bronze, and the workshop managed to continue production throughout the economically unstable period from 1789 into the 19th century. Feuchère's grandson later took over the firm and continued producing to the same high standards.
Provenance
Acquired from Burstert art dealers in Berlin in 1979.
Literature
Illus. in: Ottomeyer/Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich 1986, vol. I, illus. 5.16.6.