Empire Period

Empire – Empire Period Mahogany and Mahogany Veneer Empire Console Table General Description An important rectangular console table decorated with Zephyr heads in patinated black bronze, made of mahogany and mahogany veneer, resting on two tapered front uprights, ringed with bronze, adorned at the finials with these finely chiseled heads. The rear uprights, treated as pilasters, are joined by a stretcher shelf, giving the whole a strong architectural presence, characteristic of Empire furniture. Structure and Materials The console table is entirely built on an oak frame, supporting very high-quality Cuban mahogany with a dense and regular grain, demonstrating a choice of materials reserved for the most refined productions of the early 19th century. Bronzes The bronzes, of remarkable quality, are distinguished by the fineness of their chiseling and the elegance of their patina. The treatment of Zephyr's heads, with their precise and expressive modeling, reflects a workshop of the very first order, comparable to the best Parisian creations of the Empire period. The white marble top, molded, has a beautiful thickness and an antique patina. It shows slight signs of wear consistent with age, without affecting its solidity or the overall aesthetic balance. Market Reference: For comparison, a pair of virtually identical consoles was sold at auction during the sale "ORANGERIE DE CHEVERNY – 20TH YEAR – FINE FURNITURE" on Sunday, June 8, 2008. These two consoles, signed and from the workshops of Jacob-Desmalter, active between 1796 and 1835, featured architecture, composition, and bronze decoration very similar to the model presented here. Although unsigned, the console offered here is distinguished by the exceptional quality of its construction, the use of first-rate Cuban mahogany, and the finesse of its bronzes, placing it among the great Empire productions of the early 19th century. Historical Context and Comparisons: The console offered here is fully in keeping with the production of this period, characteristic of the influence Greco-Egyptian style developed under the Consulate. Its ornamental repertoire can be compared to that of a pair of mahogany console-jardinières preserved at the National Museum of the Château de Fontainebleau (inv. F 684 C), which also feature a column structure and a decoration of winged busts. These console-jardinières came from the Hôtel du Général Moreau, rue d'Anjou in Paris, where they were located in his wife's bedroom, before being installed at the Palace of Fontainebleau in November 1804. Originally fitted with a mirrored base, replaced in the second half of the 19th century, they do not bear the stamp of the Jacob brothers. However, as Denise Ledoux-Lebard points out (Les ébénistes du XIXᵉ siècle, p. 295), everything suggests that they did indeed come from their workshop. In this context, the console presented here, by virtue of the quality of its structure, the nobility of its materials, and the excellence of its bronze mounts, naturally fits into this corpus and reinforces the hypothesis of a production originating from the same circles of Parisian workshops. It is possible that these different pieces originally formed a coherent set, later dispersed during the confiscation of General Moreau's furniture by Bonaparte. Dimensions: Height: 86 cm Width: 113 cm Depth: 48 cm Condition: Antique marble with slight signs of age; very good condition; free delivery throughout France by Galerie De Cicco