Thomire: Spectacular And Rare Pair Of Astral Lamps, Empire Period.

Even though it is commonly used, the adjective "rare" here reveals its true meaning.
Here is an exceptional pair of astral lamps of almost a meter high, in patinated and gilded bronze, formed of superbly chiseled winged victories.
This model is the rarest and the highest quality that one could acquire at the beginning of the 19th century.
These, in the manner of vestals canéphores come to offer the light under half globes of glass engraved with stars, also of origin.

The discovery of the astral lamp, invented by Isaac Bordier-Marcet (1768-1835, Swiss engineer, industrialist and inventor), marked a fundamental advance in the history of lighting and revolutionized the oil lamp. With its flat reservoir in the form of a ring surrounding the burner, its flame illuminates objects from top to bottom, without casting a shadow.
There were luxury versions, whose foot was made of various noble materials (marble, bronze, silver ..).
The globes being fragile, these lamps became extremely rare.

Pierre Philippe Thomire and Pierre François Feuchère were, as far as we know today, the only bronze workers to have produced exceptional astral lamps, decorated with winged victories or vestals.

Pierre Philippe Thomire used these same winged victories on pairs of candelabras, one of which I had the pleasure of presenting to you in March 2020 (detailed in the "old collections" section of my site: www.mon-antiquaire.com).

The allegories of the four seasons decorating the quadrangular base are also recurrent at Thomire. The Mobilier national keeps two examples.

Provenance certainly of exception. Confirmed by the presence of stamp and inventory numbers under each base: Three letters dash and four numbers, very faded.

Thanks to Messrs Rivière (great collector of exceptional oil lamps) and Diaz (expert of oil lamps, having collaborated in the restitution of the historical oil lighting in the castle of Fontainebleau) for their precious information and their admiration for this magnificent pair of astral lamps.

Beautiful original gilding, wear only on the base.

Formerly electrified. Restored to standards by Mr Bernard Frizza (bronzier of art, best worker of France).

Attributed to Pierre Philippe THOMIRE (1751-1843)

From the Empire period, around 1810.

Ref: 77TB952LOO