Offered by Franck Baptiste Paris
Rare and precious pedestal table in finely chiseled and mercury-gilded bronze.
It rests on a tripod base imitating hocks ending in lion claws.
It is topped by an acanthus base and a large baluster shaft decorated with a frieze alternating acanthus and palmettes.
The shaft is finished with a rosette decorated with lotus flowers on which an oak frame is fixed.
The latter supports the precious top in Egyptian purple porphyry veneer which is encircled by two lateral and upper ingot molds, in finely chiseled bronze with friezes of palmettes.
Beautiful state of conservation.
High quality of chiseling and mercury gilding with a double matte and shiny patina.
Work by Pierre Philippe Thomire, Paris Empire period around 1810.
Dimensions:
Height: 72 cm; Diameter: 57 cm
Similar pedestal tables:
-Sotheby’s Paris, October 28, 2009, lot 87, 85,250 pounds sterling
-Christies Paris, December 14, 2022, lot 8, 65,520 euros
-Artcurial Paris, June 23, 2009, lot 125, 62,492 euros
Marc Arthur Khon, December 20, 2017, lot 51, 73,600 euros including fees
Our opinion:
This type of pedestal table was produced in mahogany and bronze, by the two great craftsmen of the imperial family Jacob Desmalter and Pierre Philippe Thomire.
The attribution of our pedestal table to the famous bronze-maker Thomire comes from a copy bearing his mark that was formerly kept in a Parisian collection.
It is described on page 134 of the work of Juliette Niclausse, "Thomire, fondeur ciseleur (1751-1843)", Paris, 1947:
"A large pedestal table in chased and gilded bronze. The belt is decorated with a succession of stars, the feet end in claws. Signed Thomire."
A few rare examples are known; they all have the same base with a tripod leg with hocks and a baluster shaft but different in the decoration of the belt, which is commonly decorated with vine leaves or stars but rarely with palmettes as on our model.
These delicate bronze belts were used to enhance the precious tops in marble marquetry or hard stones.
Our copy has preserved its two ingot molds, which is very rare, it is presented in a very beautiful gilding with double patina and with a top in purple porphyry from Egypt, a stone that was reserved in antiquity for the pharaohs and then for the Roman emperors.
It is obvious that such a bronze piece of furniture supporting a precious stone top could only be intended for a great dignitary of the empire.
The alliance of bronze and porphyry on an Etruscan base characteristic of the designs of the architects Percier and Fontaine represents in our eyes the quintessence of empire furniture.
