Physical description
French neo-classical fire grate; gilt-bronze with cast iron grate and patinated figures representing Apollo and Euterpe (the muse of Music). The grate has a U-shaped basket and engraved steel bars framed by lyres and masks beneath massive scrolled brackets cast with acanthus and mounted with anthemions, the rounded down-curved sides bordered with berried laurel, the lower edge with a band of stiff leaves, on four fluted tapering legs, signed 'THOMIRE A PARIS 1788' below the front edge; the columns with fluted shafts each supporting a bronze figure, one of Apollo, standing nude and wearing flowery drapery, both on tall stepped plinths mounted with oval classical profile medallions. The figure of Apollo is also signed 'THOMIRE A PARIS 1788'
Place of Origin
Paris, France (made)
Date
1788 (made)
Artist/maker
Thomire, Pierre-Philippe, born 1751 - died 1843 (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Cast iron and gilt-bronze; patinated.
Marks and inscriptions
'THOMIRE A PARIS 1788' Made by Pierre-Philippe Thomire in Paris in 1788
Dimensions
Height: 115 cm grate, Width: 85 cm grate, Depth: 48.5 cm grate, Depth: 51 cm grate, Height: 107 cm Base to top of column, Width: 22 cm Across column, Depth: 22 cm Across column
Object history note
This grate is from Powderham Castle. It was created for ornamental rather than practical use as the remarkable condition of the gilded and patinated surfaces confirms. It was probably originally commissioned for Uxbridge House, London, by the cabinet-maker John Linnell through the Paris marchand mercier Dominique Daguerre who subcontracted it to the leading bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Recorded at Powderham in the early 19th century, it was sold at Christie's, London in 1987 and acquired by the V&A with contributions from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Art Collections Fund (Art Fund).
Historical significance: Mark Girouard wrote about the Music Room in his articles on Powderham for Country Life Magazine and noted 'As a signed piece in an English home dating from (Thomire's) early and more personal period, the grate at Powderham is, I think, unique'. (Country Life, 18th July 1963)
An article published by Jenny Saunt in the Journal of the Antique Metalware Society (Vol. 18, June 2010: see References) illustrates an inventory at Powderham, compiled in 1803, suggesting that the grate may have been first shown in the library.
Historical context note
The Music Room at Powderham Castle was created by the 3rd Viscount Courtenay who employed the architect James Wyatt to design the room and the spectacular caryatid fireplace which was realised by the sculptor Richard Westmacott. The Courtenay family archives list payments for the Music Room from March 1794 to April 1796. The Thomire fire grate was probably acquired for the room as the musical motifs and figures of Apollo and Euterpe provided such an appropriate focus for the hearth.
Descriptive line
French neo-classical firegrate from Powderham Castle, gilt-bronze with cast iron grate and patinated figures, by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Paris, 1788.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Marian Campbell ed., "Metalwork acquisitions at the V&A 1978-88", Burlington Magazine, 1989, no.III, p. 389
Magnificent French Furniture and Sculpture, Christie's London, 17 June 1987 lot 28
Mark Girouard, "Powderham Castle, Devon, III," Country Life, 18th July 1963
D.H. Cohen, "Pierre-Philippe Thomire -Unterhehmer und Kunstler", Vergoldete Bronzen, 9, 1986, II, pp. 657-665
Saunt, Jenny, "A Gilded-Front French Grate with two Pedestals & Columns", The Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, Vol. 18, June 2010, pp. 20-31, ill. p. 20
Exhibition History
Princely Treasures: European Masterpieces 1600-1800 from the V&A (National Museum of Korea (Seoul) 02/05/2011-28/08/2011)
Europe 1600-1800 (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/01/1987-31/12/1987)
Labels and date
FIREGRATE AND PAIR OF COLUMNS
Gilt and patinated bronze
Paris, signed Thomire a Paris and dated 1788
M 19a and b-1987
This firegrate is a rare instance of a gilt bronze being both signed and dated. It was made in the workshops of Pierre-Phuilippe Thomire in 1788 and it shows superlative craftsmanship in the intricate modelling and matt and burnished gilding. The firegrate is interesting because of its signature, dating and quality of execution, but it is unique in that it was made to an English commission and to a specifically English design. The English coal-burning grate was unfamiliar in France where they continued to burn wood.
It was probably supplied to the London dealer John Linnell who had connections with the mercier Daguerre in Paris. Linnell was furnishing Uxbridge House in 1788 and this firegrate, decorated with emblems of music, lyres and trumpets, may have been originally intended for the music-room there. [1987]
Associated names
James Wyatt
Production Note
Attribution note: The V&A has a drawing of a related grate amongst a group of drawings by the cabinet-maker John Linnell (E.375-1929). This particular drawing is associated with Linnell's important commission to furnish and decorate Uxbridge House, London, 1785-88. The drawing bears the inscription 'Echelle de quatre Pieds d'Angleterre', is executed in a finer hand than the other drawings in this collection and is on continental paper. The drawing may be in Thomire's hand and if so, may have been executed through the agency in Paris of the marchand mercier Dominique Daguerre. The two other related drawings of grates may be English variants of the French original. The rough pencil sketch (E.330-1929) shows the possible arrangement of the grate with the columns standing in recesses on either side of the chinney-piece rather than as supports to the grate itself as shown in (E.370-1929). For a discussion of these drawings see Helena Hayward and Pat Kirkham, William and John Linnell, 1980.
Materials
Gold; Bronze; Iron
Techniques
Casting; Chasing; Amalgam gilding; Patinating
Subjects depicted
Acanthus; Scroll-work; Mask; Apollo; Laurel; Fluting; Medallions (ornament areas); Drapery; Anthemions; Lyres; Euterpe
Categories
Metalwork; Architectural fittings
Production Type
Unique
Collection code
MET
