Attribuable à PIERRE-PHILLIPE THOMIRE (Paris, 1751-1843) ?

PAIR OF TROPHIES OF ARMS OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD Paris, Restoration period, after 1814-1815 Chased bronze, gilded with mercury and matt, acid patina H. 36 cm, D. 14 cm Provenance Former Roger Imbert collection Private collection, Paris This pair of trophies of arms presents the equipment of three corps of the Imperial Guard affixed to a greening tree trunk, following the ancient tradition according to which the remains of defeated enemies were placed in evidence on pruned trunks. One can recognize the bear cap of the grenadiers of the infantry line with its grenade plate, the strap holding on one side a lighter sabre and on the other the giberne with the banner, the flintlock rifle particularly neat in its details even in the reproduction of the cordial hole under the jaw of the dog. The two other sets belong to the cavalry. We see the sabre with a curved quillon and a single-branch guard, used by horse hunters or hussars, as well as the sabretache, without the imperial eagle; the giberne, without its ornaments; the pair of pommel pistols and the musket whose very short barrel evokes the 1816 model. The whole is structured by the lance of the lancers and its floating banner. The whole is perfectly balanced. The mercury and matte gilded arms stand out against the patina of the tree, between the Imperial Guard cap and the mound of vegetation. The arrangement is reminiscent of a soldier on the march, but in a less dynamic posture than the conquering grenadier that adorns the clock in the Mobilier National (fig. 1). The quality of execution, evident in the flowers and foliage on the terrace, is further measured by the degree of sophistication of the assembly. The bonnet, made up of two elements, opens in two to access the central fixing rod. These trophies, which represent the defeated Imperial Guard, must have been made after Napoleon's first abdication on April 4, 1814. Very few examples exist. Three others, found in private collections, also show significant differences from our model (fig. 2). Our artist proved to be a fine connoisseur of the arms of the Empire in addition to being a talented sculptor. In this respect, Pierre-Philippe Thomire, arms manufacturer during the Revolution, is one of the great Empire bronzemakers who remained active during the Restoration. He is also a plausible candidate for the creation of our pair of trophies. Further information from the collector is available by QR Code in the PDF. Collector's information sheet updated with brass analysis results following the Heginbotham protocol