18th-Century Gilt Bronze & Egitto Serpentino Urn After Pierre Gouthière

This 18th-century gilt bronze & Egitto Serpentino urn is modeled after the opulent design of one of the last gilders of the Versailles Court, Pierre Gouthière. An identical urn is held in the Musée du Louvre, Paris, modeled after a drawing by François-Joseph Bélanger circa 1775-1780, and appeared at The Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Frick Collection in New York in a joint exhibition of Gouthière’s work. This was the first exhibition to concentrate on his career, with objects loaned from private collections and institutions like the Louvre and the Royal Castle of Warsaw. The drawing by François-Joseph Bélanger represents a vase from the Duke of Aumont’s collections.

Elevated on a square Ormolu pedestal beneath a circular mottled marble socle, the green marble urn features intricate detailing, such as a chased pierced Ormolu band embellished with foliate scrolls and a central reserve. The urn is further accentuated by ornate Ormolu rams' heads adorning each side, their expressions remarkably lifelike, perhaps even identifiable as Pyrenean goats. Their dynamic hair is delicately chased on the noses and ears, which contrasts with the tight tufts elsewhere on their heads, showcasing the mastery of technique employed by the artisan. The horns, meticulously burnished and matte gilded to emulate nature's elegance, imbue the work with a sense of refinement and luxury.

Pierre Gouthière was an unrivaled metal worker, born in Troyes, France, and traveling to Paris at an early age as the pupil of Martin Cour. During his brilliant career, he executed a vast quantity of metalwork of astounding variety, becoming the most famous Parisian bronze chaser and gilder of the late 1700s. Gouthière was a master of chasing and invented a new type of gilding that left a matte finish. Combining polished with matte finishes to create varied effects on the surfaces of his bronzes, he made many types of objects, including furniture mounts, ornaments for mantelpieces and coaches, and mounts for porcelain or marble vases. He received commissions from some of the leading connoisseurs of his day. The collection of the duc d'Aumont served almost as a retrospective of Gouthière's work, displaying a range of items, including lacquer cabinets and chandeliers, all mounted with the artist's excellent bronze. Most notable were the many commissions he received for furniture from the court of Louis XVI, creating several bronzes, especially for Marie Antoinette.

Gouthière was successful and enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle. After 1775, however, the death of two of his major patrons and unwise financial speculations left him in dire financial difficulty. Madame du Barry, Louis XV's mistress, owed him 750,000 livres for nearly 20 years of work, and his inability to collect this debt finally forced him into bankruptcy in 1787. He died in poverty, still trying to make her heirs repay him.

Circa 18th century

18 1/8“ high x 15” wide x 12“ deep