A mahogany and mahogany veneered armchair, late 18th century, circa 1792, stamped G.IACOB

the curved open back with a pierced frieze of palmettes, the straight arms on curved dolphins with lion head supports, on baluster shaped front legs, upholstered in purple silk with gold floral garlands, with the iron mark TH. and the three crowned fleurs-de-lys in an oval, and the ink marks 1250, 12288 and 43559

- Probably delivered for the Comité de Salut Public at the Convention, pavillon de Flore du palais des Tuileries, circa 1793;
- Garde-Meuble de l'Assemblée nationale from November 4th, 1795;
- Palais du Luxembourg for the service du Directoire exécutif from November 5th, 1795;
- Sent to the palais des Tuileries, probably for the Salon du consul Le Brun circa 1800;
- Stayed at least until the Restauration at the palais des Tuileries;
- Sale Artemisia/Blanchet et Associés, Paris, May 28th, 2014, lot 164

Related literature: 
- Exh. Cat. Sièges en société. Histoire du siège du Roi-Soleil à Marianne, Paris, 2017, p. 182.
- L. de Groër, Les arts décoratifs de 1790 à 1850, Fribourg, 1985, p. 22, fig. 27.
- M. Jarry, Le siège français, Fribourg/Paris, 1973, fig. 264.
- D. Ledoux-Lebard, Les ébénistes du XIXe Siècle 1795-1889. Leurs oeuvres et leurs marques, Paris, 1984, p. 289.
- J.-P. Samoyault, Mobilier français Consulat et Empire, Paris, 2009, p. 18, fig. 12.

The illustration of the catalogue is accurate. Good overall condition. There are the inevitable dents, marks and scratches due to age and use. As stated in the notice, the backrest "en hémicycle" was previously decorated with a paper frieze. There are restorations to the angles between the backrest and the armrests. The construction is firm and sound. The purple silk fabric is in good overall condition. Rare armchair with an important provenance.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This armchair is probably from a suite made by George Jacob, circa 1792-1793 for the Comité de Salut Public at the pavillon de Flore (palais des Tuileries). According to Jean-Pierre Samoyault, (exh. cat. Sièges en société, p. 182), this suite of chairs was later sent to the National Garde-meuble and thereafter to the Palais du Luxembourg for the Directoire Exécutif.  François Lebrun (1739 – 1824), Third Consul and Prince-Treasurer of the First Empire, used part of this suite in his hôtel particulier de Noailles, and these are now at the Mobilier National (4 armchairs, 6 chairs. 1 canapé was later added by Lebrun; one chair illustrated fig. 2).

One example is in the Musée Marmottan and has the advantage of having a preserved stamp and glued paper on the backrest. Jacob claimed to be the inventor of the technique he called "camées" [cameo]. Our armchair no longer has this, but the chair in the Musée Marmottan and the one in the former Rouart Collection still have it (fig. 1). The armchairs at Malmaison and Bois-Préau have lost their frieze (inv. M.M.40.47.811, fig. 3). The palmette on the pierced frieze is inspired by the pattern invented by Jacob for Marie-Antoinette's dairy at Rambouillet in 1787 (now at the Petit Trianot at Versailles).