Mid 19th Century Verde Antico Marble Urns as Lamps After Pierre Gouthiere - a Pair

Description

The urns are designed after an 18th Century model of the famous French chaser-gilder, Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813) one of the … more The urns are designed after an 18th Century model of the famous French chaser-gilder, Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813) one of the most famous artisans of the 18th century. Pierre Gouthière was bronze chaser and gilder to Louis XV, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Louis XV’s mistress, Madam Du Barry. 

The urns feature Verde Antico marble with an oval fluting lower bodies. They are mounted with gilt bronze ormolu with pierced galleries and with foliate finials on their bases. The marble bowls are on gilt bronze triform supports with scrolled tops, decorated with satyr head masks. They are draped with fruit swags, and fitted with fruiting foliage wreath handles. The triform supports terminate in hoof feet. A gilt bronze sculpture of a snake spirals down the center between the three legs. The vases are set on round Verde Antico bases, raised on gilt bronze toupie feet. 

Although he worked less after the French Revolution, Pierre Gouthière’s fame endured until he died in 1813 and throughout the 19th century, when his works continued to be highly prized by mainly French and English collectors. less