Empire Secretary Stamped Jacob Desmalter ( 1770-1841 )

Elegant Empire period secretaire stamped JACOB .DR MESLEE (signature affixed from 1803 to 1813 by Georges Jacob (1735-1814) and François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841). Art furniture with beautiful mahogany structure flamed embellished with refined ornamentation in gilt bronze.The drop-leaf facade is flanked by high antique-style banded columns presenting at the top a large drawer with an inclined facade from which to discover a beautiful architectural interior deploying an arrangement of different drawers, one of which closing with a cloverleaf lock, the worktop is covered with beautiful green leather decorated with small gilded irons.The lower part opens with two leaves offering three large drawers.The sides are embellished with patterned panels in woodwork. with a rectangular top in veined gray marble. Very good original condition. Dimensions. 1 m 36 high X 92 cm wide X 45 cm deep. More than any other house, Jacob-Desmalter embodies the Empire style and diversity of its output. François-Honoré-Georges constitutes with his father "JACOB DR MESLEE" He is then the main supplier of the Garde-Meuble but does not limit his activity to official orders: he works not only for the greatest dignitaries of the empire and sponsors private. The great diversity of his work brought together several workshops, including one for bronze which was used to produce the ornamental bronzes for furniture. When he was appointed cabinetmaker to the Emperor, his factory had taken a prodigious development. It was at this time that Jacob, working with the painter David, created the Empire style, imitated from the antique and which sought in the art of Imperial Rome its sumptuous, majestic and harsh lines.