Selected works

Conceived in costly polished steel and gilt-bronze and with an audacious goût à la grecque design, these superb console tables are an exciting discovery, adding to a small group of related examples produced circa 1765, including the celebrated console supplied to King Augustus III of Poland.

PIERRE II DEUMIER

Little is known about the locksmith Pierre II Deumier, aside from what can be ascertained from his advertisement in the 1767 journal, which states that he was serrurier du roi (Locksmith to the King). The study of papers in the Archives Nationales in Paris has revealed he also worked as serrurier des Bâtiments du roi et de la Ville de Paris and for the most influential patrons of his time, such as the prince de Condé. His workshop was recorded rue Neuve des Mathurins in the Chaussée d’Antin whereas his father, dit Pierre I Deumier and also maître serrurier, was recorded on the rue des Marmousets. His most important commission seemed to have been the one for Warsaw, where Deumier supplied not only the large console, but also some doors, metal hardware for the picture frames of the Chambre des Portraits and mirror frames in bronze, probably intended for the boudoir of the palace. Another notable commission was the group of grilles he made for the choir of the Royal church Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois in Paris for which he proudly requested the marquis de Marigny, directeur général des bâtiments du Roi to visit this work in a letter dated 30 October 1767.

THE ATTRIBUTION OF THE GILT BRONZES

Although there is no record of which bronzier supplied gilt-bronzes to Deumier for his consoles, the superb quality of the ormolu on these consoles, particularly the remarkably lifelike and organic laurel-leaf garlands, beautifully chased and delicately veined, relate to the work of the celebrated bronzier, doreur and ciseleur Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813). One of Gouthière’s most celebrated clients was the duc d’Aumont, who oversaw the Menus Plaisirs and was a passionate collector of hardstones and bronzes d’ameublement. The famous sale of the duc d’Aumont’s collection in 1782 indicated which works were made by Gouthière, including an extraordinary pair of alabaster vases with ormolu handles in the form of laurel vines (lot 7) (fig. 4 and 5) with a similar virtuosic naturalistic quality. These vases were acquired by Louis XVI at the sale for the Musée du Louvre, were later acquired by the comte de Flahaut and more recently sold from the collection of French and Company, Christie’s, New York, 24 November 1998, lot 15 ($2,092,500, see also C. Vignon and C. Baulez, Pierre Gouthière: Virtuoso Gilder at the French Court, New York, 2016, p. 186-187, cat. no. 10).