Pair of French Empire Ormolu and Mahogany Chairs by Jacob-Desmalter, Circa 1810

Item Details

A pair of French Empire ormolu and mahogany side chairs by Jacob-Desmalter (French, 1770–1841), circa 1810. The frames feature straight crests above spindled, vertical splats with floral and figural, gilt-bronze mounts. The spring-filled seats are upholstered in later, black velvet fabric cutaway to gold with gimp trim by Brunschwig & Fils. The chairs rise on turned, front legs and raking, back legs while the underside of the front seat rails are stamped ‘Jacob D / R Meslee’.

François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter was the son of famed French cabinetmaker Georges Jacob (1739-1814). He was active from 1796 to 1825, in partnership with his older brother Georges II Jacob (French, 1768–1803) and later with his father. The family workshop, located on Rue Meslée in Paris, made furniture for a number of wealthy patrons, including Napoléon Bonaparte (French, 1769-1821), who had a set of similar chairs in his card room at Fontainebleau (the set now located at the Château de Malmaison and can be seen photographed in the publication Decors d’Empire by Bernard Chevallier, published 2008).

Condition

- to fair; chair “A” appears to retain original mounts; chair “B” has a slightly reset top mount and bottom mount has been re-cast; lower mounts of both chairs with unqualified holes in the centers; both in later upholstery; seat rail secondaries have been built up and have added springs; one chair with a repair behind the front, left leg near the top; underside of both chairs have one canvas strap partially removed in order to show the maker’s stamps; frames with other various scratches, dents, chips, cracks, marks, and abrasions consistent with age and use; structurally stable.

Dimensions

- measured one chair.

Item #

18DCC700-171