ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS COMPIGNE: A FINE PAIR OF 18TH CENTURY FRENCH PEWTER, GILT, BRASS AND PAINTED LANDSCAPES ON BLUE GLASS PANELS, CIRCA 1775, depicting lakes with fishermen in boats, houses and trees, in pewter decorated with gold, silver and coloured varnishes on blue, foil backed glass panels, within gilt borders, mounted in rectangular fruitwood frames,

the panels 17cm wide x 13.5cm high, the frames 24.5cm x 20cm (2)

PROVENANCE:

Purchased by a private collector from the Christie's, Paris, Appartement parisien de M et Mme John Gutfreund sale, 28th June 2012, Lot 340, for €11,250.

Thomas Compigne's shop was at Rue Grenetta, Paris, in the cabinetmakers' quarters; which was useful for sourcing the finest materials for his works, which included ivory, tortoiseshell, exotic woods, paintings, gold and silver. He produced decorative works of art and exquisite objects such as snuff boxes, canes and games boxes, but became famous for his relief panels painted in coloured varnishes on a background of gold, silver or foiled and coloured glass. His unique style drew clients from far and wide who marvelled as the beautiful, jewel-like objects and speculated as to how he had produced them. In 1773 he presented the King with views of his hunting lodge Saint-Hubert, this gift further enhanced his sparkling reputation and growing fame.