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The inspiration for the present suite of furniture derives from the fauteuil du Trône supplied for the sum of 8.900 francs by the celebrated Parisian ébéniste, François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (d.1841), for the salle du Trône of Napoleon I at the Palais de Saint-Cloud in 1804. Based on designs by Charles Percier (d.1838) and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine (d.1853), Jacob-Desmalter's original chair was constructed of gilt walnut, with the spheroid finials being of ivory, and with the Herculean chimera monopodia cast in gilt-bronze, after models by Cartellier. In keeping with Napoleon's desire for the fixtures and furnishings of the salle du Trône at the Tuileries and Saint-Cloud to mirror each other exactly, Jacob-Desmalter produced another of the chairs for the former palace. However, unlike the identical pairs of candelabres, six fauteuils, six chaises, thirty-six tabourets and huge quantity of balustrading, gilt-bronze eagles and rosettes also ordered for each throne room, the two fauteuils du Trône differed from one another, the Tuileries version, without the Herculean chimera monopodia, being more restrained and, at 5.600 francs, costing less.
See Christie's New York, 26 September 2000, lot 260, for a pair of giltwood and Aubusson fauteuils du Trône, more closely replicating Jacob-Desmalter's model and formerly belonging to F. W. Woolworth.
An Empire style stained wood canape
AFTER JACOB-DESMALTER, FROM DESIGNS BY PERCIER, FONTAINE AND CARTELLIER, CIRCA 1890
Details
An Empire style stained wood canape
After Jacob-Desmalter, From designs by Percier, Fontaine and Cartellier, Circa 1890
Upholstered in hobnailed cream and red damask, the triple-sectioned back with laurel garlanded frame, with central medallion carved with a lyre flanked by crossed laurel branches and a female mask to each side, the side sections with padded back, above a cushioned seat with anthemion and rosette-carved rail, with padded sides and arm-rests terminating in a sphere finial, supported on Herculean chimera monopodia and with square panelled acanthus and frond-carved rear legs
775/8in. (197.2cm.) wide
After Jacob-Desmalter, From designs by Percier, Fontaine and Cartellier, Circa 1890
Upholstered in hobnailed cream and red damask, the triple-sectioned back with laurel garlanded frame, with central medallion carved with a lyre flanked by crossed laurel branches and a female mask to each side, the side sections with padded back, above a cushioned seat with anthemion and rosette-carved rail, with padded sides and arm-rests terminating in a sphere finial, supported on Herculean chimera monopodia and with square panelled acanthus and frond-carved rear legs
775/8in. (197.2cm.) wide