Guillaume Denière foundry 1774 - 1866 A bacchanal group Paris, circa 1860

bronze, dark brown patinated, raised on a breche violette marble base, the group signed DENIÈRE. 

The firm of Guillaume Denière was founded in 1804 and at the time was the only major competitor to the long established firm run by Thomire. Taken over by younger Denière in 1844, the firm became one of the major bronziers during the second half of the 19th century.  They manufactured a wide variety of products ranging from small decorative objects to torcheres, chandeliers, clocks, chimney pieces, and larger architectural elements.  They exhibited extensively at the series of exhibition from 1851.  They supplied important commissions to the Mobilier de la Couronne. Tardy cites the firm as being active until 1890.