A rare Consulat ormolu-mounted mahogany and burr yew dressing table, attributed to Jacob Frères circa 1802, stamped CHATEAU DE ST. CLOUD

the irregular octagonal mirror framed with ormolu banding cast with palmettes and held by two ormolu supports cast with leaves, topped with twisted finials and teminating in part-patinated tripod bases with paw feet, the frieze mounted with ormolu winged lions centered by a palmette in front, raised on ormolu-mounted curved legs terminating in paw feet; with painted inventory marks SC651, SC759, STC1944, SC580, SC26813. Lacking candle branches.

Delivered circa 1802 for the Château de St. Cloud and recorded in the bedroom of Empress Joséphine in 1805
Cambaceres Collection
Collection of Theodore Reinach
Collection of Michel Ephrussi
Collection of Akram Ojjeh, Sotheby's Monaco, June 25, 1979, lot 130
Sotheby's New York, October 31, 1986, lot 76

J.-P. Samoyault, Mobilier Français Consulat et Empire, Paris, 2009, p. 131

Mirror plate replaced. Lacking candle branches. Marble top with abrasions and small losses; most invisible as they are under ormolu banding of top. Scattered minor old cracks; not extensive. Scattered scuffs, dents and abrasions ro mahogany. Mahogany with minor losses; some areas now restored with small patches. Yew with some cracks and minor restorations. Two paw feet with restored old breaks, now stabilized with later screws. Refinished. Frieze partially remounted. Ormolu with some rubbing, minor traces of oxidation and surface dirt. Part-patinated area redecorated. Side drawers with repaired shrinkage cracks to bottoms. In good, restored condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The 1807 inventory of the Château de St. Cloud lists this dressing table in the bedroom of Empress Joséphine as item 786:

"n° 786: une toilette avec socle pieds en bois d'acajou et à griffes, la frise en bois racine d'if et à dessus de marbre veiné, orné de figures, rosaces, anneaux, étoiles et palmettes en cuivre doré or moulu, surmontés d'un miroir dans son cadre en bois de racine d'if, avec baguettes en cuivre doré, porté par deux candélabres à deux bobèches et à brandon en cuivre doré et bronzé. 4000"

The 1826 inventory of the palace lists the table in the appartment of the Premier Valet du Chambre as item 759:

"n° 759 (1944) une toilette de femme pieds à socles, griffes et consoles en acajou feuilles d'ornement et palmettes en bronze patere sur l'enroulement, ceinture en bois d'orme, deux tiroirs avec différents groupes en bronze, dessus marbre blanc veiné, glace forme octogone, encadrée en bois d'orme, ornements bronze doré et fixé par deux candélabres, pieds triangulaires et griffes et forme de flambeaux, avec des branches à cornets et rinceaux 1200 f (n° 700)."

Napoleon Bonaparte, 1st Consul, took up residence at St. Cloud on September 20, 1802.  The decoration and furnishing of the appartments was entrusted to Percier and Fontaine, the principal suppliers being the frères Jacob whose invoices totalled 322,577 francs out of the total 1,283,397 francs.

A similar dressing table delivered in 1805 by Jacob Desmalter for the Empress Joséphine at the Tuileries, now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, is illustrated Serge Grandjean, Empire Furniture, fig. 21. Another similar, fitted with candlearms, in the Prado, Madrid, is illustrated Colecciones Reales de España, El Meuble, pl. 401.