Pierre Gouthière became the foremost Parisian bronzier in the later part of the 18th century. In November 1767 he was appointed to doreur du roi of the king’s gilder by Louis XV. He was a master of gilding and was the one who invented technique of matte ormolu gilding and he was able to develop the objects’ contrasts with different effects. Gouthière was extremely successful and had an extravagant lifestyle, but his financial speculations were less successful. Louis XV’s mistress, Madame du Barry, had large debts to Gouthière and this debt forced him into bankruptcy in 1787.