Monture attribuée à Pierre-Philippe THOMIRE (Paris, 1751-1843 ; maître en 1772)

PAIR OF PORPHYRY VASES Louis XVI period - Paris, circa 1790 Porphyry; gilt bronze; pink granite and antique red marble Accidents H. 57,5 cm, W. 13,5 cm, D. 13,5 cm PROVENANCE Former collection of Madame Camoin These porphyry covered vases, raised on pink granite and antique red marble pedestals, are richly decorated with gilt bronze. This pair, which comes from the estate of Madame Camoin (fig. 1), is similar to the vase purchased by Madame du Barry from Daguerre and Lignereux on May 1, 1792, and now in the Louvre (fig. 2). The mounting is commonly attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire. As here, the lid is surmounted by a rosette of leaves topped by a seeded fruit forming a grip; on the shoulder, two female figures with bodies extended by acanthus and vine scrolls each sound two wind instruments; the base of the body is trimmed with foliage; the quadrangular base is animated with garlands of vines, ram heads and rosettes, underlined by a doucine chiseled with acanthus leaves. Our musicians play the horn here and their foreheads are delicately decorated with roses.