Not on display

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

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved and gilt walnut, with original(?) hemp(?) close webbing, and modern striped silk top covers
Brief description
Chair, one of a set of four chairs and two armchairs, carved and gilt walnut, the top rail carved with a bow and a wreath, the square back and horsehoe-shaped seat covered with modern striped silk. covers, by Georges Jacob, France, about 1785
Physical description
Chair, one of a set of four chairs and two armchairs, of carved and gilt walnut, carved decoration including cupid's bows with quivers of arrows, and wreaths of flowers,upholstery of modern pink and yellow striped silk.
On this chair, in the trophy on the top rail, the single arrow points to the right, and the right side of the wreath lies behind the trophy (in reverse to 1062&A-1882).
Dimensions
  • Height: 86cm
  • Maximum, at widest point of seat width: 46.5cm
  • At back of seat width: 37.2cm
  • Maximum depth: 50.5cm
  • Of seat depth: 45.5cm
Measured 5 December 2006
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'G.JACOB' (stamped on underside of back seat rail)
Gallery label
(1980)
[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
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
1062B-1882

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Record createdDecember 1, 2006
Record URL
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