French Empire Attributed to Jacob Desmalter Mahogany Armchairs - A Pair

Description

A very fine pair of French Empire mahogany armchairs attributed to Jacob Desmalter, circa 1805. The shaped backs ending in … more A very fine pair of French Empire mahogany armchairs attributed to Jacob Desmalter, circa 1805. The shaped backs ending in beautifully carved rams head terminals, the elegant legs with hoof feet. Wonderful design, the epitome of the French First Empire, these chairs have exquisite profiles.

François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841)

Second son of Georges Jacob (1739-1814), the major chair maker during the reign of Louis XVI, François-Honoré-Georges Jacob added Desmalter to his name in 1803 in memory of a family property at Chény in Burgundy called "Les Malterres". The Jacob Frères Company, set up in 1796, was dissolved on the death of the elder brother Georges in 1803. François-Honoré-Georges set up a new company with his father as business manager and himself as artistic manager. Established at 77, Rue Meslée in Paris, the workshop specialized in woodwork, including woodcarving, gilding and bronzes. The quality of its production was exquisite and gained him a Gold Medal at the Expositions des Produits de l'lndustrie Française in 1798, 1801, 1802 and 1806. less