ATTRIBUTED TO PIERRE-PHILIPPE THOMIRE, SECOND QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

These impressive ormolu tazza surtouts are attributed to the workshop of Pierre-Phillipe Thomire (1751-1843) based on their close relation to two signed pairs of 'bowls aux dauphins' from Château de Vincy, Switzerland, sold from the R. Mimran collection, Koller, 22 March 2007, lot 1292 and 1293.
The most celebrated bronzier-ciseleur of the Empire period, Thomire was born into a family who specialised in the finishing and refinement of gilt-bronze. He worked initially for the renowned bronziers Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813) and Jean-Louis Prieur (d. circa 1785-1790), ciseleur-doreur du roi. Thomire established his own workshop in 1776 and quickly established a reputation for finely chased gilt-bronzes, supplying gilt-bronze mounts for furniture to the ébéniste Jacob Desmalter.
Thomire's workshop continued through the Revolution and in 1804, he purchased the business of Martin-Eloy Lignereux, a marchand-mercier. This greatly expanded his establishment, as it allowed him to sell furniture and Sèvres porcelain that could be mounted with ormolu from his workshops in addition to the wide range of objects it already produced such as candelabra, surtouts de table, clocks, vases and chenets.
Thomire's atelier soon gained the patronage of Napoleon, who awarded him the title of ciseleur de l'empereur in 1809 and fournisseur de leurs majesties two years later, perfecting the motifs and forms now so closely related with the empire style.