Desk chair
probably François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1770 - 1841)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1805
Materials
Mahogany, beech, brass, velvet, braid, hessian, webbing
Measurements
87 x 61.5 x 51 cm
Place of origin
Paris
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 608226.1
Summary
A mahogany desk chair, or fauteuil de bureau, French, circa 1805, one of a set of four, probably by François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1770 – 1841). The back rail curved and fitted with a scroll-over toprail, the arms each terminating in a carved lion mask above curving arm supports. The seat upholstered in later green velvet edged with braid. Raised on a pair of ring-turned and tapering gun barrel front legs. The rear legs rectangular-section and outswept, and fitted with brass caps and castors.
Full description
For years these chairs have been considered English, and in the manner of designs published by George Smith at the beginning of the 19th century. They are French, however, and bear a very close resemblance to desk chairs which feature carved animal heads (rams' heads are also known) at the ends of the arms which were made by the firm of Jacob-Desmalter at the beginning of the 19th century in Paris. Some of the chairs bear English caps and castors (stamped COPE'S PATENT), but these are almost certainly replacements.
Provenance
Originally a set of six, probably acquired by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Lord Berwick (1877 - 1947) in Paris, circa 1919. Two were sold in the 1970s. Five listed in the Library in the Inventory taken at Attingham Park in 1913 (p. 87). Listed in the 1947 Probate Valuation taken there amongst 'Residuary Effects' (p. 30) and in the 1954 Insurance Valuation (p. 1). Thence bequeathed by Edith Teresa Hulton, Lady Berwick (1890 - 1972) and transferred from HM Treasury to the National Trust in 1976.
Marks and inscriptions
Inside rear seat rail: Chair out of Library May 1913 Caps: COPE'S PATENT
Makers and roles
probably François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1770 - 1841), ébéniste