244 - Georges JACOB (1739–1814)

Georges JACOB (1739–1814) Armchair with a flat backrest made of gilded wood, molded and richly carved with acanthus leaves, pearls, palmettes, rosettes, and heart-shaped rays; the curved armrests are topped with fluted column shafts. The curved waistband rests on tapered legs with pearl-fluted grooves decorated with acanthus leaves and ropes. Stamped “G. Jacob.” Louis XVI period. Traces of a former label H 92 W 64 D 46 cm (chips) Georges Jacob was certified as a master cabinetmaker in 1765. This armchair is comparable to a set of four armchairs stamped “Jacob” and preserved at Buckingham Palace(1). They bear a label stating that they were purchased from the dealer-merchant Dominique Daguerre and were intended to adorn a room at Carlton House. The armchair we are presenting here, given the quality and richness of its carving, was likely commissioned from Georges Jacob by a merchant-mercer—an intermediary who was often indispensable in the second half of the 18th century between artisans and a wealthy clientele of collectors. (1) “Buckingham Palace” by J. Harris and G. de Bellaigue, London 1968, Nelson Ed., p. 216. GEORGES JACOB Georges Jacob (1739–1814), who was granted master status in 1765, established his own workshop on Rue de Clery, then moved to Rue Meslée in 1755. His chairs are characterized by high-quality craftsmanship, great diversity, and remarkable creativity. These qualities made him one of the Crown’s preferred suppliers. Among his principal patrons were the King, the Queen, the King’s brother, the Prince of Condé, the Duke of Penthièvre, and, abroad, the Prince of Wales at Carlton House and the Elector of Bavaria. In 1796, he sold his business to his sons Georges II and François-Honoré-Georges, who adopted the “Jacob Frères” hallmark.