A suite of Louis XVI giltwood seating furniture third quarter 18th century, four fauteuils stamped G. Jacob

comprising four fauteuils, one associated fauteuil, and one associated settee (6 pieces).

Maurice Segoura, Paris
Sotheby's New York, May 25, 2000, lot 407

All with some minor age and construction cracks, not extensive and consistent with age and use. Gesso with some minor chips and abrasions. Regilt, gilding with rubbing in areas, mostly to terminals of arms and top of backs; consistent with use. Some with minor old worm damage to underside; not extensive. One chair with small restored crack to area where leg joins seat rail. In overall good condition, fully restored and lavishly upholstered.
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.

Georges Jacob (1739-1814) was one of the most celebrated and outstanding Parisian menuisiers in the second half of the eighteenth century. He founded a dynasty of furniture makers that prospered for almost one hundred years. Born in Cheny, he arrived in Paris at the age of sixteen as a furniture apprentice, although it is not known to whom. On September 4th 1765, he became a maître and set up his workshop in rue de Cléry. As a menuisier-ébéniste, he practiced both crafts but chairs were the majority of his output. In 1781 he was named ébéniste-ordinaire to the Comte de Provence and became one of the fournisseurs des Menus-Plaisirs. At the start of the Revolution, Jacob focused on making other types of furniture and concentrated more on ébénisterie, using mostly mahogany, maple, and satinwood, with more neoclassical designs. In 1796, he handed his business over to his two sons, Georges and François-Honoré-Georges, and retired.

The suite offered here was most likely manufactured during the early years of Jacob’s career. Although the shapes are pure neoclassicism, the curving and foliate-carved armrest supports indicate a lingering Rococo playfulness. Such armrest supports were fairly standard until the early- to mid-1760s and can be found on many chairs by Meunier, Nogaret, and Avisse, among others. However, in Jacob’s oeuvre they are quite rare and can be found only in a handful of examples, such as a pair of gray-painted fauteuils sold Christie’s New York, April 19, 1978, lot 135. A pair of carved walnut fauteuils with the same carved rosettes, fluted legs, similar rail and armrest supports was sold Sotheby’s Monaco, April 10, 1976. Also interesting to note are the balloon backs of the chairs in this suite, which were typical of Jacob’s later work in the early 1790s when he executed his pieces mostly in plain mahogany.