Empire Painted and Parcel Gilt Salon Suite

French, attributed to François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter, early 19th century
Estate / Collection: The Dalva Brothers Collection

Comprising a settee and pair of fauteuils. The backs decorated with reliefs portraying shells and flanking flower-filled cornucopias, the armrest supports with winged crouching sphinxes over saber legs. Height of settee 38 inches (96.5 cm), width 70 inches (178 cm), depth 29 inches (74 cm); height of fauteuil 36 inches (91.5 cm), width 23 1/2 inches (60 cm).

Chauncy Devereaux Stillman Collection

A chair with the same unusual winged sphinx figures is illustrated in Le XIXe Siècle Francais (Hachette; Paris, 1957, p. 66) and is signed Jacob-Desmalter.