"-jacob Frères- System Table, Directoire Period Late 18th Century"
Rare and elegant system table called à la Tronchin from the late 18th century Directoire period stamped JACOB FRERES RUE MESLEE Jacob Georges II (1768-1803) and Jacob François-Honoré-Georges (1770-1841). Beautiful structure in mahogany wood from the West Indies, the top adjustable to the desired angle by means of double racks presenting in its center a tilting reading tablet sheathed in green leather, it opens with a belt drawer revealing a sliding writing desk and two pull tabs sides covered with green leather with small golden irons. It rests on sheath feet adorned with pear-shaped clogs. Very good general condition and beautiful buffer varnish, dimensions: 98 cm long X 78 cm high X 57 cm wide. A society as refined as that of the Ancien Régime always needs novelty, needs to surprise and be surprised. In the 18th century came a craze for furniture that concealed mechanisms and racks that introduced a touch of fantasy like the writing table or the table “à la Tronchin”. An architect's table The “Tronchin table” or “Tronchin-style” desk was created during the reign of Louis XVI by doctor Théodore Tronchin (1709-1781) of Geneva origin. At the time, he carried out research on bone diseases, the consequences of a bad position adopted by architects at their work table, he then recommended the use of a table for which the top was tilted depending on whether wishes to be lifted or assisted in order to relieve the back of its users. JACOB FRÈRES: The two sons of Georges Jacob, Georges II (1768-1803) and François-Honoré-Georges (1770-1841), joined forces in 1796 to take over their father's workshop under the company name and stamp : "Jacob brothers, rue Meslée". In the company they ran together until the end of the Consulate, the eldest (Georges II Jacob) took care of the commercial administration and the second of the technical part. François-Honoré-Georges called himself Jacob-Desmalter, after a property his father owned in Burgundy. General Bonaparte, on his return from Italy, ordered from the Jacob brothers, for his bedroom in rue Chantereine, some curious military furniture, the bed of which resembled a tent and the seats of drums. Later, the First Consul called on the same cabinetmakers to refurnish the former royal residences devastated by the Revolution. After having hitherto produced works of very sober taste, which were especially valuable for their character and purity of style, the Jacobs began to manufacture pieces more richly decorated with sculptures and bronzes. Sometimes they also enhanced them with colored wood inlays and porcelain bas-reliefs imitating Wedgwood biscuits. A gold medal was awarded to them at the exhibition of the year IX, where they had presented in particular two chests of drawers adorned with cameos. They outdid themselves in the competition the following year. Leus sending authorized, among other pieces, several tripods in incense burners and a sumptuous console of carved and gilded wood, covered with an Italian mosaic.