Jacob Desmalter - Mahogany office Gondola Chair delivered To The Msse de Montcalm

Armchair
Mahogany and mahogany veneer, embossed silk velvet
Stamped on the back crossbar “IACOB” for Jacob Desmalter between 1813 and 1824
Dimensions: H.; Seat height; W.; D. (cm.)
Paris, circa 1817

An impressive gondola-shaped armchair, it rests on tapered front legs with rings and sabre-shaped rear legs. Simply molded belt. The armrest supports extend from the legs, in a quiver shape, and the strongly curved backrest is decorated with scrolls topped with leaves.

An aristocratic provenance
The label on the back crossbar of this chair is surprisingly well preserved. It reads “Made la marquise/de Montcalm/Sallon”. This chair belonged to a set probably commissioned by the Marquise de Montcalm. A patron of literary salons during the Restoration, she moved into a new mansion at 37 Rue de l'Université in September 1817 and held a salon there, which was frequented by the most famous names of the day, including Lamartine and Chateaubriand. Her vivacity and sharp mind, but also her proximity to power, played a large part in this. The publication of her journal, filled with insightful analysis and information coming directly from the highest circles, was a great success, leading to several reprints.

Comparable works:
- A pair of armchairs of the same model, but older (stamped Jacob Desmalter), formerly in the collection of Philip Hewatt-Jaboor
- Portrait of the Marquise de Montcalm by Hesse, donated by Richelieu, now in the Sorbonne

Bibliography:
- L'Hôtel Le Play, une histoire “retrouvée” (The Hôtel Le Play, a “rediscovered” history), in the journal Pour mémoire, November 1, 2006, article by Jérôme Klein
- My diary, begun on April 10, 1815, Marquise de Montcalm

Provenance:
- delivered to Armande-Marie-Antoinette de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu - Marquise de Montcalm-Gozon when she moved into the Hôtel le Clay in September 1817
- her brother, the Duke of Richelieu, former President of the Council, by donation upon his death in 1832 (he inherited the mansion)
- private collection in the Périgord region

Condition report: seat restored with woodwork and upholstery, waxed finish and upholstered with luxurious silk velvet from Bonvallet. Minor damage and missing pieces.