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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES

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A very rare Empire gilt bronze mounted mahogany guéridon by Jacob-Desmalter et Cie, stamped JACOB, the circular bleu turquin marble top above a circular frieze decorated all around with winged female figures and flaming torches interspersed with ribbon-tied swags, the three square leg supports with applied arrow-shaped mounts terminating in carved lion paw feet joined by a concave-sided triangular undertier Paris, date circa 1815-1820 Height 82 cm, diameter 42 cm. The celebrated firm of Jacob-Desmalter et Cie was one of the most successful and influential firms of furniture makers during the Empire and Restauration. It began with Georges Jacob (1739-1814), considered the greatest menuisier of the Louis XVI period. When Georges retired in 1796, he handed the business over to his two sons Georges II (1768-1803) and François-Honoré-Georges Jacob (1770-1841), who worked under the name of Jacob Frères. Following Georges II’s early death his brother assumed the name of Jacob-Desmalter, (Desmalter being one of his father’s properties in Burgundy) and went back into business with his father at rue de Meslée, renaming the firm Jacob-Desmalter et Cie. During the Empire François-Honoré-Georges was described as menuisier-ébéniste, fabriquant des meubles et bronzes de LL., MM., II. et RR (Leurs Majestés Impériales et Royales), thus implying that he played an active role in the practical side of the firm’s craftsmanship. After Jacob-Desmalter’s appointment as ébéniste de l’Empereur, the firm’s activities expanded enormously. Numerous commissions came from the Garde-Meuble Imperial to supply furniture to various Bonaparte family residences, especially those of the Empress Joséphine. The firm was also patronised by many notable figures and rich Parisian bourgeoisie. Commissions also came from abroad, from Czar Alexander I of Russia and Charles IV of Spain. Among the firm’s most important surviving items are the Imperial throne at Fontainebleau, the jewel cabinet made for Marie-Louise and the display cases in the Cabinet des Antiques at the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris. Jacob-Desmalter’s work can also be admired in numerous other collections including the Châteaux de Compiègne, Fontainebleau, Malmaison, Versailles and Sceaux l’Ille-de-France as well as the Musées du Louvre, Marmottan, Mobile National, Grand Trianon, Napoléon and Tours. In addition, the Bibliothèque Marmottan, Banque de France, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères and the Palais d’Aranjuez in Spain are among many others to house work by Jacob-Desmalter. The almost unrivalled success of the firm was as much due to the quality of its productions as to its innovate designs. Percier and Fontaine, Pierre-Paul Prud’hon, Jacques-Louis David, François-Joseph Belanger and Baron Vivant Denon were among distinguished painters and architects to provide designs. The fine lines and characteristic form of Jacob-Desmalter’s work was further embellished with elaborate gilt bronze mounts, supplied by such celebrated figures as Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot and Pierre-Maximilien Delafontaine, sometimes after designs by the sculptor Antoine-Denis Chaudet. Despite its phenomenal repute, the firm, like many others in the luxury trade, suffered severe financial problems during the industrial crisis following the Peninsular War and Russian campaign. In 1813 Georges I Jacob retired, coinciding with the firm declaring bankruptcy. This however was short lived as business revived rapidly after the Restoration of Louis XVIII in 1814. Soon after Jacob-Desmalter received a number of royal commissions, notably to furnish the Palais de l’Elysée for the duc de Berry. The firm also provided large quantities of furniture to the Emperor of Brazil and later worked for King George IV at Windsor Castle. When François-Honoré-Georges retired in 1825 he entrusted the business to his son Georges-Alphonse (1799-1870) who continued up until 1847 when he sold it to Charles-Joseph-Marie Jeanselme (1827–after 1871).
 

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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES
Dorfstrasse 30
8322 Gündisau, Switzerland,

tel +41 44 212 00 14
mobile + 41 79 333 40 19
fax +41 44 212 14 10

redding@reddingantiques.ch
Exhibitor at TEFAF, Maastricht
Member of the Swiss Antique Association
Founding Member of the Horological Foundation

Art Research: 
Alice Munro Faure, B.Ed. (Cantab),
Kent/GB, alice@munro-faure.co.uk

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