Jean - Baptiste Héricourt - Magnificent Pair Of Directory Period (1795-1799) Cassolettes

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Presenting a magnificent pair of late 18th-century Directory period cassolettes, exquisitely crafted in gilt bronze and green marble, attributed to Jean-Baptiste Héricourt. Designed around 1793, these pieces were initially created for Tsar Paul I of Russia. Historically attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, recent research by Jean-Dominique Augarde has reassigned these works to Héricourt, a contemporary of Thomire and a member of the elite cadre of bronziers alongside Galle and Ravrio.


The cassolettes, or incense burners, are fashioned in the shape of Medici vases. The bodies feature a bas-relief depicting a Bacchanalia scene with bacchantes—women draped in antique style—and putti, dancing with garlands. Each cassolette boasts a gadrooned rim and scrolled handles, topped with removable lids adorned with foliage, openwork decoration, and a pine cone finial. They rest on gadrooned feet atop square green marble bases, decorated with Mercury masks on three sides, a laurel-leaf rim, and bun feet.


Renowned for their popularity and craftsmanship, these cassolettes were among the most famous and sought-after items from 1795 onwards. Occasionally, they were paired with vase-shaped clocks of similar design. Notably, on 26 May 1799, the Parisian merchant Jean Mazeau delivered at least one such set to Tsar Paul I’s service at Saint Michael’s Castle in Saint Petersburg. A pair from George IV of England resides in Windsor Castle (see sketch in last photo), while another set from Charles IV and Marie-Louise of Spain is housed in the Royal Palace in Madrid. Additionally, a pair can be found in the Pilaster Room at the Pavlovsk Palace in St. Petersburg.


These cassolettes exemplify the stylistic transition towards the end of the 18th century. The art of gilded bronze peaked during this period, with exceptional creativity in forms, casting, chasing, and gilding. The Directory period witnessed rapid stylistic evolution, resulting in works of remarkable elegance and luxury.


This important pair of cassolettes is in excellent condition, featuring well-preserved mercury gilding.


Origin: Paris, Directory period circa 1795-1799.

Dimensions: 45 cm high, 16 cm diameter. Size of the base: 12,5 x 12,5 cm.


Jean-Baptiste Héricourt (1756-1849)
Jean-Baptiste Héricourt, a contemporary of Pierre-Philippe Thomire, was the son of a miller from Charenton who rose to prominence in the art of bronze. Establishing himself as a “sculptor engraver in bronze” in 1791, Héricourt adorned some of Europe’s most prestigious residences with his exquisite creations. His reputation as a master of furniture bronzes solidified during the Directory period, and he remained active until 1829, residing at the corner of Rue Neuve Orléans and Faubourg Saint-Martin.


Héricourt’s work is renowned for its exceptional quality, with several of his models becoming classics in their own right. In 1806, he was selected by the authorities of the Seine department to represent the art of gilded bronze at the 4th Exhibition of the Products of French Industry, alongside luminaries such as Thomire & Cie, Duport Père et Fils, Claude Galle, and André-Antoine Ravrio. His participation earned him an honourable mention, a testament to his skill and the prosperity of his workshop at the time.


Héricourt’s creations were distributed through esteemed colleagues and firms, including Denière & Matelin, Claude Galle, Lucien-François Feuchère, Pierre-Victor Ledure, and Antoine-André Ravrio, as well as various clockmakers, upholsterers, and merchants. His work contributed significantly to the ornamentation of palaces and grand residences across France and Europe. Notably, his pieces adorned the Parisian hôtel of Princess Pauline, sister of Napoleon I, underscoring the high esteem in which his artistry was held.


Literature
- Jean Dominique Augarde, “Une nouvelle vision du bronze et des bronziers sous le Directoire et l’Empire”, L’Estampille l’Objet d’Art, n°398, January 2005, p. 62-85.
- Jean Dominique Augarde, “Jean-Baptiste Héricourt. Un bronzier à l’épreuve du temps”, L’Estampille l’Objet d’Art, n°584, December 2021, p. 64-77.
- Jean-Dominique Augarde, “A Journey Through Clocks – Masterworks of the Parnassia Collection”, Dijon, 2022, Vol. I p.288-291.
- Archive Royal Collection Trust.