Skip to Content

A PAIR OF EMPIRE ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE TWIN-LIGHT CANDELABRA
- ATTRIBUTED TO PIERRE-PHILIPPE THOMIRE, CIRCA 1805

Contemporary, modern and old century works of art at auction for buyers and collectors at Christie’s auction house

View, register and bid for sales

A PAIR OF EMPIRE ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE TWIN-LIGHT CANDELABRA
ATTRIBUTED TO PIERRE-PHILIPPE THOMIRE, CIRCA 1805
Price Realized
(Set Currency)
  • £27,500
  • ($44,302)
  • Price includes buyer's premium
Estimate
    £20,000 - £30,000
  • ($31,000 - $45,000)

Sale Information

Sale 7745
important european furniture, sculpture & clocks
9 July 2009
London, King Street




Lot Description

A PAIR OF EMPIRE ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE TWIN-LIGHT CANDELABRA
ATTRIBUTED TO PIERRE-PHILIPPE THOMIRE, CIRCA 1805
Each with a standing figure of Isis holding two stiff-leaf carved cornucopiae headed by coiled serpents issuing anthemion and star-studded nozzles, surmounted by a cat, possibly the Deity Bastet, above a spreading rectangular stepped plinth cast in relief with Anubis sitting on a bull, and sistre-bearing Egyptian figures, probably previously with further branch(es) to head of figure
26¼ in. (66.5 cm.) high; the base: 6¼ in. (16 cm.) wide; 5 in. (12.5 cm.) deep (2)

Special Notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Pre-Lot Text

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

Lot Notes

These candelabra are closely related to a pair executed by Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) circa 1805 (ill. in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I., p.336, fig. 5.3.3) and deriving from a design dated circa 1800 by Charles Percier for the supports of a centre table now in the Musée du Louvre (ill. Ibid, p. 336, fig. 5.3.4).

Further related examples attributed to the bronzier-ciseleur include a pair probably supplied to Czar Paul I for St. Michael Castle in St.Petersburg by the marchand-mercier Jérome Culot with whom Thomire is recorded to have worked extensively, in the nouveau cabinet de travail at Pavlovsk, St. Petersburg (Pavlovsk, Le Palais et le Parc, 1976, figs 176, 178 and 180).

Among the related examples attributed to Thomire sold at auction, a pair formerly in the Collection of M. Maxime Sciolette, former French ambassador to Brazil, was sold at Christie's, Paris, 23 June 2005, lot 367, while another example from the collection of M. Hubert de Givenchy, was sold at Christie's, Monaco, 4 December 1993, lot 39 (FF1,332,000 with premium). A further pair was supplied by the bronzier to the Mobilier Impérial, was formerly in the château de Saint-Cloud and is now in the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d'Honneur, Hôtel de Salm, Paris (ill. in J.M. Humbert, et.al., Egyptomanie, 1994, p.286, no. 167).

Department Information
Artist/Maker/Author Information
Keywords