Chair thumbnail 1
Chair thumbnail 2
+16
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 1

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Chair

ca. 1785 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This chair (one of a set of four and two armchairs) bears the stamp of the most fashionable Paris chair-maker of the late 18th century, Georges Jacob. One of his principal patrons was Louis XVI's queen, Marie-Antoinette, and he supplied her with several sets similar to this one in the 1780s, for various French royal palaces. The history of the present set is not known, but the carved decoration - including Cupid's bows with quivers of arrows, and wreaths of flowers -- suggests that it was made for a lady's bedroom or boudoir.

The upholstery dates from the 1960s (although the webbing under the seat may be original), but its square profile is based on the style of upholstery fashionable in late 18th-century Paris.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Chair
  • Upholstery
Materials and techniques
Carved and gilt walnut, with original(?) hemp(?) close webbing, and modern silk top covers
Brief description
Chair, carved and gilt walnut with modern striped silk covers, by Georges Jacob, France, about 1785
Physical description
Chair of carved and gilt walnut, one of a set of four chairs and two armchairs, carved decoration including cupid's bows with quivers of arrows, and wreaths of flowers.
On this chair, in the trophy on the top rail, the single arrow points to the left, and the left side of the wreath lies behind the trophy (as on 1062-1882 and in reverse to 1062B-1882).
Dimensions
  • Height: 86cm
  • At widest point of seat width: 46.6cm
  • At back of seat, approx. width: 37.5cm
  • Depth: 51.8cm
  • Of seat, approx. depth: 45.5cm
  • Of upholstered seat height: 43.5cm
  • Of seat rails height: 35.5cm
Measured 5 June 2009. 'Approx.' dimensions have not been measured on this chair, but are transferred from others in the same set.
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'G.JACOB' (Stamped on underside of back seat rail.)
Gallery label
[Label text by Peter Thornton] Four chairs French (Paris); about 1785 Stamped 'G. Jacob' with a fleur-de-lys Carved and gilt beechwood; modern upholstery By the eminent chairmaker Georges Jacob who provided much furniture for the French royal household. These chairs were probably made for some luxurious closet belonging to a lady: the cupids' bows, quivers of arrows and wreaths of flowers would have made them particularly appropriate for such a setting at that period. Jones Collection Museum No. 1062 to C-1882(1980)
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Object history
The choice of the pink and yellow striped covering for re-upholstery in the 1970s by Peter Thornton may have been based on the engraving 'Defends Moi' based on a painting of the 1780s by Boilly, a copy of which is in the Print Room (E.2816-1948).
Subjects depicted
Summary
This chair (one of a set of four and two armchairs) bears the stamp of the most fashionable Paris chair-maker of the late 18th century, Georges Jacob. One of his principal patrons was Louis XVI's queen, Marie-Antoinette, and he supplied her with several sets similar to this one in the 1780s, for various French royal palaces. The history of the present set is not known, but the carved decoration - including Cupid's bows with quivers of arrows, and wreaths of flowers -- suggests that it was made for a lady's bedroom or boudoir.

The upholstery dates from the 1960s (although the webbing under the seat may be original), but its square profile is based on the style of upholstery fashionable in late 18th-century Paris.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
1062A1to 1062A/2-1882

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Record createdDecember 1, 2006
Record URL
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