Thomas Germain
Thomas Germain (1673–1748) was the pre-eminent Parisian silversmith of the Rococo.
The son of a Paris silversmith Pierre Germain (none of whose work survives) he did not at first train in the family workshop, but began as a painter, spending the years 1687–1702 in Rome, where he turned his hand towards goldsmith's work.
Once again in Paris he received the status of maître(master) in 1720 and was appointed an orfèvre du Roi(or, per a literal translation, the title of the "King's Goldsmith"). Much of his output was to royal commissions, including a number of presentation swords given to the likes of Marshal Foch and Alain Porée, Captain of the Corsairs.
Aside from the work for the French crown he had royal patrons in the queen of Spain, the king and queen of Naples, and the
At his death, his atelier passed to his fourth son
References
- ^ The Jeweler's Circle. Volume 79, Issue 1 - September 24, 1919, pg. 101
- ^ Royal French Silver. The Property of George Ortiz - Sotheby's New York: Wednesday November 13, 1996 (Sale 6915)
- ISBN 2-8562-0370-1.
- G. Bapst. Les Germains. Paris, 1887. Still the classic monograph.
External links
- (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga) Large Surtout for the portuguese Duque de Aveiro
- (Getty Museum) Two pairs of tureens for portuguese families, 1726–29 and 1744
- Cristina Neiva Correia, The Bernard Surtout
- Henry Hawley, "Meissonnier's Kingston Tureen" Magazine Antiques January 1997.
- (Museum in Belém Palace - Lisbon) Inkstand for the royal portuguese family
- Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisboa (Portuguese site)
- (Musée du Louvre) Inkstand for the portuguese Cardinal João Cosme da Cunha, a pair of wine coolers and saltcellars from the Penthièvre-Orléans service, and a pair of sugar casters for the Duke of Bourbon.