Offered by Franck Baptiste Provence
Rare "console d’applique" in oak wood finely carved and gilded with the leaf.
The high crossbar with central projection is slightly curved; it is finely carved on three registers, of a frieze of pearls, laurel tori and twisted ribbons, to which we must add a fourth row in heart-shaped stripes, for the sides.
The apron of the crosspiece is highlighted by a light symmetrical acanthus.
The two uprights with laurel leaf falls are finished with scrolled consoles decorated with rosettes that project large openwork acanthus leaves on both sides, interior and exterior.
The two legs are joined by a spacer decorated with laurel leaves which is surmounted in its center by a beautiful antique cassolette, itself decorated with Greek handles, head of rams, and two garlands of flowers connected to the spacer.
Exceptional quality of sculpture; original gilding.
Very good state of conservation.
Red marble top.
Inventory number on the back of the crossbar and illegible inscription in ink on the top.
Parisian work of the Louis XVI period around 1780 attributable to Georges Jacob.
Dimensions:
Width : 135 cm ; Depth : 39 cm ; Height : 85 cm
Console very close stamped G.Jacob :
Sale collection Lagerfeld Christies Monaco 28 and 29 April 2000, lot 8 ( 609 500 francs)
Our opinion :
Our rare console is attributable to Georges Jacob; carpenter who delivers to the furniture storehouse several sets of this type, of a new and very innovative taste, seats but also tables, with feet in consoles which are characteristic of his production.
In the decades 1775-1785, he delivers this type of furniture exclusively for an elite, for the Prince of Conti, the Count of Provence or the Count of Artois.
Several seats made by the great master for the crown take up this decoration of laurel leaves and ribbons, in particular a set delivered for the Count d'Artois at Bagatelle in 1775 (published on page 25 of the book " Jacob and his time " by M.Beurdeley).
The virtuosity of the carving, on a particularly hard oak wood, with laurel leaves and the use of the drill bit to accentuate the reliefs is particularly successful, as is the gilding, of great quality, with a double patina on very light finishes.
In view of these elements, it is very likely that our console was commissioned to Georges Jacob by the furniture keeper, which seems to be confirmed by a partially erased inventory number on the reverse of the crosspiece.
The pure line of our console, its sobriety, the exceptional qualities of sculpture and gilding make it a collector's item of the greatest rarity.
*Georges Jacob (1739-1814) was a carpenter received master in Paris in 1765.
He is simply one of the most prolific carpenters of the second part of the 18th century.
Supplier of Queen Marie Antoinette, he collaborated with the greatest decorators of his time: Hubert Robert, for example, for the armchairs of the Rambouillet dairy, but also Delafosse, Prieur or Percier and Fontaine.
He supplied the palaces of Versailles, St Cloud, Les Tuileries, Fontainebleau...
His period of activity is from 1765-1796.
Then he gave the company to his two sons who founded Jacob Frères.
He died in 1814.
