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Pair of candelabra with three lights Louis XVI style, finely chiseled gilt bronze decorated with three branches of light foliage, in the center a basket full of fruit sumonte the barrel with three caryatids, pedestal trilobed pearl frieze decorated with winged griffins elongated , white marble base, after a model of bronzier Pierre Gouthière *, XIXth century.
These candelabra are in good condition and are of a remarkable quality. They can be attributed to a model of Pierre Gouthière because the elements of decor correspond to the repertoire of the bronzier (foliated arms, basket with fruits, winged griffins, caryatids). The model of caryatids (with necklace and masking under the chest) is made according to a drawing by the decorator Dugourc (1749-1825), who worked with the greatest bronzers of his time.
A note: the bronze will be cleaned, the beads move a little on the bases, tiny small shocks, a slightly deformed arm (posterior), wear of time, look at the photos.
is a French chisel-gilder of the eighteenth century. He is one of the greatest French bronziers, his extreme skill gave birth to great masterpieces of the decorative arts of the reign of Louis XVI. Gouthière's reputation as a chiseller and as a gilder (he is the inventor of gilding to the mat, which gave the bronze the appearance of gold) was very quickly affirmed. Thanks to the protection of the Duke d'Aumont, he obtained work for the Menus Pleasures of the King; in particular, in 1770, at the famous jewelry box offered to the Dauphine for his wedding. This first large order indicates Gouthière's own activity: he interprets in the metal, melting, chiseling and gilding, models designed by architects (Bélanger, Ledoux) or modeled by sculptors (Houdon, Boizot). He received many orders from the administration of the Buildings of the King (chimney of the pavilion of Madame du Barry at Fontainebleau, now at Versailles) or great personages (Duke of Aumont, Duchess of Mazarin, Mme du Barry for Louveciennes). He also worked with cabinetmakers such as Riesener and Martin Carlin. Ruined because he did not receive from Mme du Barry the sums he owed him, he did not work much after 1788. All the quality works of the Louis XVI period were attributed to Gouthière. Some of his works, the Avignon clock (Wallace Collection) or fires (andirons) deer and wild boar Louveciennes (Louvre), some mounted vases from the collection of the Duke d'Aumont (Louvre) show originality Gouthière style: naturalism of flowers and garlands, extreme precision but devoid of dryness of carving, quality of gilding.
