A PAIR OF FRENCH GILT BRONZE FRUIT STANDS WITH CUT CRYSTAL DISHES BY PIERRE-PHILIPPE THOMIRE, CIRCA 1810

Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) was the most outstanding fondeur-doreur of the Empire period. Thomire worked as a ciseleur under Pierre Gouthière in 1774 and collaborated in the decoration of the coronation coach of Louis XVI in 1776 and set up on his own in the following year. He is known to have supplied mounts for furniture by the most celebrated ébénistes of the time such as Beneman and Weisweiller. Thomire was a favorite of Napoleon who made him ciseleur de l'Empéreur. In 1811 he collaborated with the goldsmith Odiot and made the celebrated cradle for the King of Rome. During the Restauration period he worked for the Bourbons and was awarded the Légion d'Honneur by Louis-Philippe. He retired in 1823 but his firm Thomire et Cie continued until 1850.