Pierre Gouthière and Madame du Barry

Knob for a French Window, ca. 1770
Pierre Gouthière (1732–1813)
After a design by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux (1736–1806)
Gilt bronze
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris

Gouthière made this knob for one of the most lavish French eighteenth century buildings, the pavilion of Louveciennes, designed by the architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux for Madame Du Barry, Louis XV’s mistress.

Pair of Firedogs, 1771
Pierre Gouthière (1732–1813)
Gilt bronze
Private collection

For the Grand Salon Carré in Mme Du Barry’s new pavilion at Louveciennes, Gouthière supplied two pairs of firedogs to complement the two chimneypieces of white marble and gilt bronze. According to Gouthière’s invoice, he presented several drawings and models of firedogs to Du Barry, one of which was found to be “to Madame’s taste” and was used to make the sets of firedogs. The other pair is at the Detroit Institute of Art.