CIRCA 1830, IN THE MANNER OF GEORGES-ALPHONSE AND FRANCOIS-HONORE-GEORGES JACOB-DESMALTER

Details

A PAIR OF CHARLES X ORMOLU-MOUNTED EBONY BIBLIOTHEQUES
CIRCA 1830, IN THE MANNER OF GEORGES-ALPHONSE AND FRANCOIS-HONORE-GEORGES JACOB-DESMALTER
Each with an egg-and-dart breakfront cornice, the panelled pediment and sides with bead and reel border mounts, with X-framed glazed doors enclosing adjustable shelves, on a moulded base, reduced in length
77 in. (196 cm.) high; 97 ¾ in. (248.5 cm.) wide; 14 ¼ in. (36 cm.) deep

Special notice

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Brought to you by

Paul Gallois

pgallois@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2260

Lot Essay

These bold and elegant bibliothèques are closely related to the ebony display cases for Egyptian antiquities at the Musée Charles X, situated in the South Wing of the Cour Carré of the Louvre, inaugurated by the King in 1827. These display cases were executed by Francois-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (d. 1841), probably together with his son Georges-Alphonse (d. 1870), who managed the family firm from 1825. The display cases of the Salle des Bijoux, in mahogany and gilt-bronze, had already been supplied by them in 1822-25, and it is no surprise that they were also commissioned to execute the cases for the Egyptian antiquities from the Durand, Salt and Drovetti collections, acquisitions made by Charles X for his Antiquities Museum in the Louvre (D. Alcouffe, et. al., Un âge d’or des arts décoratifs 1814-1848, Paris, 1991, pp. 95-98).

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