Pair of Louis XVI chairs stamped Georges Jacob for the duke of Penthièvre

Pair of Greek-style chairs known as basket handles in molded, carved and waxed beech wood from the Louis XVI period, stamped by George Jacob, bearing the fire mark of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre, for the castle of Chanteloup. The backrest is curved, crowned with a crosspiece with a low arch unifying the vertical, linear uprights diverging and its linear base; the whole forming a picture covered laterally and on the front with a large and deep molding. The latter rests on two grooved stops overhanging the rear connection points; connecting the backrest to the belt. This is trapezoidal, taking into account the divergent curvatures of the crosspieces composing it; with very pronounced projection in the main, decreasing for the lateral ones and elongated for the posterior one. All are linked together by cubic connecting dice, sculpted with rosettes for the front ones; unifying it to the base. The latter is made up of four tapered legs with deep roughened grooves, provided with a bare ring at their summits and pinched at their ends; all on an ovoid base. The stamp: I. JACOB for George JACOB and the fire mark of the storage room of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre, for the Château de Chanteloup consisting of a marine anchor, referring to his position as admiral of France. Chanteloup is distinguished by the letters “CP” for “Chanteloup-Penthièvre”. The stamp and fire mark of the storage unit are stamped under each of the two chairs. It should be noted that the fire mark of the storage room of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre, but accompanied by the letters "AB" for "Amboise-Bourbon" refers to the Château d'Amboise. The upholstery and trim have been completely and perfectly renovated by our upholsterer. It should be noted the presence of an old square in order to promote homogeneity and stability without resorting to glues, the scourge of assemblies. Provenance: Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre (1725-1793) at Chanteloup Castle. The Chanteloup castle was remodeled in 1711 by the architect Robert de Cotte for Bouteroue d'Aubigny, the castle was purchased by the Duke of Choiseul in 1761. Etienne François de Choiseul (1719-1785), from a very old family of Lorraine, first Count of Stainville, became known by serving during the War of the Austrian Succession. Noticed by the Marquise de Pompadour, he was sent to Rome then Vienna. The successes of his embassies earned him the appointment of Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1758, then Minister of War and the Navy, and Duke of Choiseul. Exiled after his disgrace in 1770, Choiseul found a cheerful retreat there, welcoming the entire Court who left Versailles to surround him. “We're bored at Versailles when we laugh at Chanteloup,” we sing. The Duke of Choiseul died in 1786 without a direct heir. Louis-Jean-Marie de Bourbon (1725-1793), grandson of Louis XIV, Duke of Penthièvre, then acquired Chanteloup and Amboise. Few architectural changes were made, only interior fittings were commissioned. A very large part of the Choiseul furniture is also preserved. The Duke of Penthièvre completes the decor with neoclassical works in the Louis XVI style, like our pair of chairs. These latter are reminiscent of other deliveries by Georges Jacob also intended for the properties of the Duke of Penthièvre. When he died, the Duchess of Orléans, his daughter, inherited the castle. His goods were seized and sold during the Terror on March 5, 1794.