Jacob Frères, Quatuor De Chaises Estampillées d'époque Consulat.

Superb set of four mahogany Etruscan chairs stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée (1797-1803).
This model, with a board back cut at the ends in half circles making volutes, was created by the company Jacob Frères at the end of the 18th century.
Derived from the Klismos chair, which launched the fashion of the Etruscan taste from 1790, this model of the Jacob Brothers (that François Honoré Georges Jacob Desmalter continued to produce under the sign Jacob D Rue Meslée) stood out from the competition, in particular from the models of Marcion, thanks to the design of its back.
The backrest is in double semi-circles on both sides, inlaid in spirals around its perimeter with a blackened pear wood filet.
The front legs turned into double balusters, the back legs into sabers.

This model was so appreciated by the Emperor, that François Honoré Georges Jacob Desmalter and his brother Georges II, delivered several imperial residences:
-A suite of 12 identical chairs delivered in 1803 to the castle of Saint Cloud. They were later placed in the Grand Trianon in 1837 in the anteroom of Madame Adélaïde (1777-1847), sister of King Louis-Philippe.
-A suite of six identical chairs, enhanced with a flower, delivered to the Palace of Fontainebleau and placed in the Emperor's cabinet.
-A suite of twelve, with the same back, delivered for the Emperor's room at the Palace of Fontainebleau.

Superb state of conservation, restoration of great quality.

The feline elegance of this model is underlined by a very beautiful new leopard fabric from Pierre Frey.

Stamped Jacob Frères R MESLÉE on the crossbar of three of the four chairs.

Consulate period.

Dimensions :
Height: 85,5 cm
Seat height: 45 cm
Width: 45 cm
Depth: 49 cm
Seat depth: 40 cm

Jacob Frères (1797-1803):
Based on "Les ébénistes du XVIIIe siècle de François de Salverte"
After their father, Georges Jacob, stopped his business, his sons Georges and François-Honoré continued the activity together under the name of "Jacob frères".

Both were born in Paris, the first on May 26, 1768, the other on February 6, 1770.
In the company, which they managed together until the end of the Consulate, the elder was in charge of the commercial administration and the latter of the technical part.

The second son was called Jacob-Desmalter, after a property his father owned in Burgundy. Lover of his trade, very intelligent, very gifted in the arts, he was to acquire among the men of his generation a reputation comparable to that of Boulle in the seventeenth century and Riesener in the eighteenth. Luck served him from the beginning. General Bonaparte, on his return from Italy, ordered from the Jacob brothers, for his bedroom on the rue Chantereine, a curious military furniture, whose bed simulated a tent and whose seats simulated drums. These historical pieces, given to General Lefèvre-Desnouettes, were inherited by the Count of Harambure, who kept them in his castle in Boran (Oise).
Later the First Consul called upon the same cabinetmakers to refurnish the former royal residences devastated by the Revolution. After having produced until then works of a very sober taste, which were worth especially by the character and the purity of the style, the Jacobs began to manufacture pieces more richly decorated with sculptures and bronzes. Sometimes they also enhanced them with colored wood inlays and porcelain bas-reliefs imitating Wedgwood cookies. A gold medal was awarded to them at the Exhibition of the year IX, where they had presented in particular two chests of drawers decorated with cameos. They surpassed themselves in the following year's competition.
Their shipment included among other pieces, several tripods in perfume burner and a sumptuous console of carved and gilded wood, covered with an Italian mosaic.
These industrialists used the mark JACOB FRERES RUE MESLEE which they printed on two lines, in high and thin letters.
This mark can also be found on many pieces of furniture in the State collections, such as the desk built for the First Consul in the shape of a triumphal arch; it is among the souvenirs of Josephine at the Château de la Malmaison.
The eldest of the Jacob brothers died prematurely on 30 Vendemiaire Year XII (23 October 1803) and François-Honoré formed a new partnership with his father, under the name "Jacob Desmalter et Cie", with the stamp Jacob D Rue Meslée.

Ref: J5F15KGSG9