Description
A museum quality antique original
armchair.
A very important French
directoire period fauteuil armchair by the famous royal ebeniste (cabinetmaker)
George Jacob signed and stamped, circa 1796.
The elegant gondola back curves
and supports beautifully. Two shaped armrests join the front swans neck
supports. These scroll down to and join the solid seat frame that is raised my
sabre legs.
Upholstered in vintage woven sienna yellow fabric
covering the back and separate drop in seat.
Apart from the signatures and stamps of authenticity the beautiful rich
original patina to the solid mahogany frame is a value point.
The master cabinet maker's stamped signature (
IACOB) appears under the from seat rail.
The upholsterer's ink signature
appears to the inside seat rail.
George Jacob ( 1739-1814) was one of the most famous
French cabinet maker's of his time. His works for the King of France Louis XVI
and later Napoleon 1st and Josephine are highly sought after and are very rare.
During the Ancient Regime under the Kings of
France only master cabinet makers were allowed to stamp and sign their
furniture as a guarantee of authenticity by the master as a member of the Paris
Guild of master cabinetmakers.
George Jacob's own stamp appears
in the ancient spelling as IACOB.
This stamp was used from
1765-1796 the year of his retirement after which his sons took over the
workshop. With the ascent of Napoleon, George Jacob returned from retirement to
help oversee the constant supply of funiture to Napoleon's residences.
It is possible that this armchair
may have introduced the newly marrier Mrs Josphine to Napoleon Bonaparte (
formerly known as Marie-Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie ) to the sculptural design
element of the swan.
Swans became a much identified
symbol of the Empress Josephine due to the interior design work by architects
Percier and Fontaine specifically for the Chateau Malmaison from 1799 till 1814.
In either case whether this chair
dates from 1796 or 1804, this chair is certainly by the hand of the master
George Jacob and is authenticated by his stamp.
Price SOLD
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