Lot Essay
This large guéridon with its porphyry top is a particularly remarkable piece of furniture. Its base was designed by Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine. The central shaft and the winged lions indeed appear on two watercoloured drawings from their hand.
The general structure of this piece finds a direct echo in the decorative repertoire used on several major works by Jacob-Desmalter. The winged lions of the base can thus be found on an important console executed between 1803 and 1806 for the Elysée-Murat, to be placed in the display bedroom located in the great apartments on the ground floor. This piece was moved to the first floor to adorn the private salon of the Empress in 1809. It is now kept by the Palace of Versailles.
The shape of the central shaft, triangular with its sides slightly curved, as well as its decor composed of sculpted palmettes and épis can be found in an almost identical manner on the gueridon kept by the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris.¹
If Georges Jacob (1739-1814) and his two sons Georges II (1763-1803) and François-Honoré-Georges (1770-1841) were not the only ones to produce such pieces of furniture under the Consulat and the Empire periods, their influence over their fellow cabinet-makers through the creation of new models was, on the other hand, undeniable. It was doubled by unrivalled craftsmanship and boldness.
On the 13th of April 1796, the father gave the company away to his two sons, while continuing to offer advice. The firm was thus renamed Jacob Frères (Jacob Brothers). During this Directoire/Consulat period, they designed the most appealing pieces that were ever produced in their workshop. Credit is assuredly largely due to the younger brother François-Honoré- Georges, who was a talented draughtsman. They received the Gold Medal at the Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie in 1801 (an IX), and delivered the furnishings of the house of Bonaparte, rue Chantereine, commissioned by Joséphine in 1797. They also furnished the hôtels of Juliette Récamier and of the Général Moreau.
In 1803, after the passing of Georges II (in October), the father formed a new 9-year association with his second son. The company was then renamed Jacob-Desmalter et Cie. Under the first Empire, they became officially appointed as furniture-makers for the Imperial family (menuisier-ébéniste-fabricant de meubles et bronzes de LL.MM.II. et RR. (Leurs Majestés Impériales et Royales). Throughout the reign of Napoleon I, it was the main provider for the Mobilier impérial, easily outrunning all its contemporary fellows.
According to Lefuel, between 1796 and 1813, the Jacob family had provided their clients with furniture worth almost ten millions francs - two millions paid by the State, a third of this amount by foreign clients, and the rest by private clients. The new association, constituted for nine years, was not renewed on the date of its expiry, on October 23rd, 1812.
The general structure of this piece finds a direct echo in the decorative repertoire used on several major works by Jacob-Desmalter. The winged lions of the base can thus be found on an important console executed between 1803 and 1806 for the Elysée-Murat, to be placed in the display bedroom located in the great apartments on the ground floor. This piece was moved to the first floor to adorn the private salon of the Empress in 1809. It is now kept by the Palace of Versailles.
The shape of the central shaft, triangular with its sides slightly curved, as well as its decor composed of sculpted palmettes and épis can be found in an almost identical manner on the gueridon kept by the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris.¹
If Georges Jacob (1739-1814) and his two sons Georges II (1763-1803) and François-Honoré-Georges (1770-1841) were not the only ones to produce such pieces of furniture under the Consulat and the Empire periods, their influence over their fellow cabinet-makers through the creation of new models was, on the other hand, undeniable. It was doubled by unrivalled craftsmanship and boldness.
On the 13th of April 1796, the father gave the company away to his two sons, while continuing to offer advice. The firm was thus renamed Jacob Frères (Jacob Brothers). During this Directoire/Consulat period, they designed the most appealing pieces that were ever produced in their workshop. Credit is assuredly largely due to the younger brother François-Honoré- Georges, who was a talented draughtsman. They received the Gold Medal at the Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie in 1801 (an IX), and delivered the furnishings of the house of Bonaparte, rue Chantereine, commissioned by Joséphine in 1797. They also furnished the hôtels of Juliette Récamier and of the Général Moreau.
In 1803, after the passing of Georges II (in October), the father formed a new 9-year association with his second son. The company was then renamed Jacob-Desmalter et Cie. Under the first Empire, they became officially appointed as furniture-makers for the Imperial family (menuisier-ébéniste-fabricant de meubles et bronzes de LL.MM.II. et RR. (Leurs Majestés Impériales et Royales). Throughout the reign of Napoleon I, it was the main provider for the Mobilier impérial, easily outrunning all its contemporary fellows.
According to Lefuel, between 1796 and 1813, the Jacob family had provided their clients with furniture worth almost ten millions francs - two millions paid by the State, a third of this amount by foreign clients, and the rest by private clients. The new association, constituted for nine years, was not renewed on the date of its expiry, on October 23rd, 1812.