A pair of French gilt-bronze chenets, after a model by Pitoin in Louis XVI style, second quarter 19th century

Comparative Literature
Hans Ottomeyer and Peter Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, pp. 272-273.

The original model of  these chenets was delivered to Fontainbleau in 1777. In 1779, a second pair was delivered to Versailles and in 1780, a third pair was delivered for the bedroom of the Duc d' Angouleme.

Quentin-Claude Pitoin (1725-1777), came from a family of Parisian sculptors. He was accepted into the Academie de Saint-Luc, Paris, on 1st February 1752, and was its director from 1762 to 1765. From 1763 until his death he was the main supplier to the Garde Meuble de la Couronne of gilt-bronze furnishing objects. His son and partner, Jean-Claude Pitoin, continued his father's workshop for several years and employed Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Louis-Simon Boizot.

A virtually identical pair of chenets sold as lot 332, Christie's, Paris, 13th December 2006, (37,200EUR).