Each with curved backrest with solid top rail above pierced vertical splats, ribbed curved trumpet-shaped armrests, slightly bow-fronted seat raised on turned tapering legs, three chairs previously caned, one chair of slightly higher proportions, each stamped JACOB FRERES / RUE

The Collection of Dr. Alexandre Benchoufi; Sotheby's, New York, 9 November 2006, lot 93.

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Lot Essay

These chairs were made after a design by Charles Percier (1764-1838) and Pierre-François Leonard Fontaine (1762-1853). Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine were the official architects and decorators to Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte, designing and redesigning their Imperial residences during the first decade of the nineteenth century. They published Recueil de décorations intérieures in 1801 which illustrates a drawing that corresponds to these chairs, illustrated in D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Francais du XIX Siecle, Paris, 1984, p.283.

Percier and Fontaine's style was adopted by the celebrated ébéniste François-Honoré-Georges Jacob (1770-1841) dit Jacob-Desmalter who worked alongside his brother Georges II (1768-1803). They were the sons of Georges Jacob (1739-1814), who worked for aristocracy and royalty during the reign of Louis XVI and who's clientele included Marie Antoinette and the Comte d'Artois. In 1796, he left the company to his sons and the Jacob Frères company was formed.

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Condition report

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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

In sound condition and ready to place. With the expected scattered light nicks, small dings, and faint scratches, most notably to the extreme edges of arms and back legs. Each with restorations to the fluted arm terminals. The rails built up to accommodate removable seat. With scattered sunfading throughout. Some blocks replaced and with associated glue residue. As stated, previously caned. With evidence of old, now inactive woodworm. As stated, three examples previously caned. One example of slightly larger proportions.

Chair A
- With remnants of old paper label to interior of seat frame
- With a restoration to the right hand arm near where it meets the scroll
- With a restoration to the left hand arm mid-way of curved part of arm terminal
- With breaks to the upper corners of pierced back splat

Chair B
- With a restoration to the left hand arm mid-way through of curved part of arm terminal and where it meets the scroll
- with a restoration and patch repair to the right arm mid-way of curved part of arm terminal

Chair D
- With doweled repairs to each arm mid-way through of curved part of arm terminal

Dimensions:
36 1/4 in. high, overall; 18 in. high, the seat; 22 1/2 wide, overall; 19 in. wide, the seat; 19 in. deep, overall; 17 3/4 deep, the seat; 25 1/2 in. high, the arms

Chair C
- Of slightly larger proportions
- With paper sticker Sotheby's label
- With doweled repairs to each arm mid-way through of curved part of arm terminal
- With repaired break to the bottom of the back splat

Additional Dimensions for Chair C:
36 1/2 in. high, overall; 19 in. high, the seat; 22 3/4 in. wide, overall; 20 in. wide, the seat; 18 1/4 in. deep, overall; 17 in. deep, the seat; 25 3/4 in. high, the arms

Print Report