GOUTHIERE, PIERRE French metal worker, was born at Troyes and went to Paris at an early age as the pupil of Martin Cour. He executed a vast quantity of metal work of the utmost variety, the best of which was unsurpassed by any of his rivals. His great patrons were the duc d'Aumont, the duchesse de Mazarin and Madame du Barry, for whom he produced much splendid work. The custom of the latter, indeed, brought about his financial ruin. When the collection of the duc d'Aumont was sold by auction in Paris in 1782 many objects mounted by Gouthiere were bought for Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette, which gave rise to the belief that he had worked for the court. The sale catalogue is in existence, with the names of the purchasers and the prices realized ; nearly all the lacquer cabinets, chandeliers, candelabra, columns and vases in porphyry, Chinese and Japanese porcelains were mounted in bronze by Gouthiere, and about 5o pieces bore his signature. The great prices paid at this sale are the criterion of the contemporary value set upon his achievement. Thus Marie Antoinette paid 12,000 livres for a red jasper bowl or brule-parfums mounted by him, which was then already famous. In 1865 the marquis of Hertford bought it at the prince of Beauvais's sale for 31,900 francs. It is now in the Wallace Collection. In the Louvre is a smaller cup and a bronze clock signed and dated 1771. When Madame du Barry's property was seized at the Revolution she owed Gouthiere 756.000 livres, of which he never received a penny, and his sons stated that he died in destitution.