Georges Jacob became one of the finest Parisian maîtres ebénistes (master cabinetmakers) of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, despite his humble beginnings and lack of formal training. Renowned throughout Europe for his opulent Louis XVI designs and grand gilt work, Jacob attracted royals, nobiles and other wealthy clientele.
Jacob was born in 1739 to a peasant family in Cheny, Burgundy. At 16, he moved to Paris to become an apprentice to chairmaker Jean-Baptiste Lerouge. While working for Lerouge, Jacob met Louis Delanois, a young menuisier (carpenter) who specialized in seating. Delanois’s distinct Rococo style and neoclassical taste influenced Jacob, whose own talents for design led him to become a maître ebéniste, in 1765.
In 1767, Jacob opened his first furniture-making business, employing several gilders, carvers and joiners to handcraft his designs. His atelier ornately decorated beds, armchairs, benches, screens and center tables with giltwood motifs such as fluting, beading, ribbons and guilloches. Word spread of Jacob’s exceptional furniture among the European elite, capturing the attention of Queen Marie Antoinette, Sweden’s King Gustav III, the United Kingdom’s King George IV and several German princes.
However, in 1789, Jacob lost several of his aristocratic clients at the onset of the French Revolution. Despite his associations with French royalty and nobility, Jacob survived the revolution with the help of his friend, Republican painter Jacques-Louis David.
In 1796, Jacob retired and left his business to his two sons, Georges and François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter, also known as Jacob Frères. Under the ownership of his sons, the workshop became a furniture supplier to Emperor Napoleon.
Jacob’s pieces are held in the collections of several international museums and collections, including the Chateau de Chantilly and Chateau de Fontainebleau; the Louvre and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, in Paris; the Wallace Collection, in London; the Museum of Fine Arts Boston; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York.
On 1stDibs, find a selection of antique Georges Jacob seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets.
Georges Jacob, vers 1790 - chaise en acajou et citronnier Louis XVI, Directoire
By Georges Jacob
Located in PARIS, FR
Chaise Acajou, placage d'acajou et de citronnier, sur hêtre Estampillé "G.IACOB" au feu, sur la traverse arrière Dimensions : H. ; H. d'assise ; L. ; P. (cm.) Paris, vers 1790 Prove...
Mahogany
Pair of Louis XVI Carved Mahogany Fauteuils by George Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite pair of Louis XVI style fauteuils, attributed to the celebrated craftsman George Jacob during the reign of Napoleon I, showcases the precision of classical French craf...
Upholstery, Wood
$22,500 / set
H 37 in W 24 in D 20 in
Set of Ten Louis XVI Style Beachwood Armchairs in the Manor of George Jacobq
By Georges Jacob
Located in Sheffield, MA
A fine set of ten Louis XVI style Beachwood armchairs In the Manor of George Jacob 19th century (Four more chairs can be offered with different uph...
Wood
A Pair of Louis XVI-Style Giltwood Fauteuils
Located in Savannah, GA
A pair of Louis XVI-Style Giltwood Fauteuils, 19th Century. 25 inches wide by 25 inches deep by 37 ½; seat height 17 inches
Velvet, Giltwood
$3,000 / set
H 33.5 in W 20.5 in D 18.25 in
Rare Pair 18th Century Directoire Penwork & Cherrywood Side Chairs, circa 1790.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Rare Pair of Late 18th Century Directoire Penwork & Cherrywood Side Chairs, circa 1790. An exceptional, highly rare, and beautifully preserved pair of late 18th-century European Neo...
Cherry, Upholstery
$26,142 / set
H 35.44 in W 25.2 in D 20.08 in
Rare Pair of French Directoire Fauteuils en Curule, Paris, circa 1800, G. Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
These finely sculpted fauteuils supported by curule-form bases, reflect the 'antique' influence of the excavations at Pompeii and Herculaneum during the 18th century. This form based on the antique Roman sella...
Mahogany
$2,350 / set
H 40.25 in W 28.75 in D 23.75 in
Pair of Louis XVI Style Tapestry Upholstered Giltwood Fauteuils
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Louis XVI Style Tapestry Upholstered Giltwood Fauteuils, each with balloon back and ornately carved frame. 40.25" H x 28.75" W x 23.75" D; seat: 17" H. Provenance: From an ...
Upholstery, Giltwood
Louis XVI Style Side Chair
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This elegant Louis XVI style side chair beautifully reflects the refinement and neoclassical influence of 18th-century French design. The chair features a finely carved mahogany fram...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of French Louis XVI Armchairs, Pair of Parisiens Fauteuils
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of French Louis XVI Armchairs, Pair of Parisiens Fauteuils A stunning pair of original 19th Century French Louis XVI armchairs...
Beech, Fabric
$2,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 37 in W 24 in D 23 in
Pair of French Louis XVI Style Carved Fauteuil Armchairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive pair of French carved fauteuil armchairs made in the Louis XVI taste. The chairs feature elaborately hand carved frames with rope designs, rosettes, acanthus, and ribbon b...
Fabric, Fruitwood
Bespoke Dining Chair in the Louis XVI Manner
Located in New York, NY
Bespoke Dining Chair in the Louis XVI Manner. This chair is custom made by Lerebours Antiques. It can be crafted in any type of wood and in a variet...
Oak
Custom Black Leather Louis XVI Oval Back Chair
Located in Houston, TX
A custom white waxed Italian beechwood frame upholstered in black leather. Also available C.O.M.
Leather, Beech
Louis XVI Style Bergere Chairs
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is a beautiful and feminine pair of Louis XVI style bergere chairs. The color palette is a light blue/gray with ivory color paint th...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
French Pair Louis XVI Carved Mahogany Fauteuil Arm Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Exquisite pair of late nineteenth early 20th century French Louis XVI style armchairs or fauteuils, constructed of solid walnut, with beautifully hand carved details including lovely...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Sold
H 35.83 in W 24.41 in D 22.84 in
French 18th Century Louis XVI Painted Wood Armchair by George Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in Berlin, DE
French 18th century Louis XVI painted wood armchair by George Jacob (1739-1814) A Louis XVI period armchair or fauteuil "en cabriolet' made ca. 1775-1779 showing the stamp of Georges Jacob (1739-1814). The carved paintwood fauteuil with round and slightly curved padded back and seat within a moulded French Grey paintwood frame showing a beautiful original patina, on fluted tapering legs. The armrests with scroll ends and partial upholstery. The armchair or fauteuil upholstered in the French tradition with an elegant linen fabric copying a Louis XVI silk jacquard with a traditional colorful ribbon&flower ornament on a vivid blue ground. Georges Jacob was one of the most prominent Parisian chair...
Linen, Wood
Sold
H 35.83 in W 24.41 in D 22.84 in
Pair of French 18th Century Louis XVI Painted Wood Armchairs by George Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of French 18th century Louis XVI painted wood armchairs by George Jacob (1739-1814) A pair of Louis XVI period armchairs or fauteuils "en cabriolet' made ca. 1775-1779 showin...
Linen, Beech
Tin and Resin Lamp by Georges Jacob, circa 1960
By Georges Jacob
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Veiling resin lamp mounted on tin, by Georges Jacob. Work made, circa 1960.
Tin
18th Century Marble-Top Mahogany Table by Georges Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in Astoria, NY
Mid-late 18th century side table by French cabinetmaker Georges Jacob (1739-1814, master 1765), oval galleried marble top on bronze-mounted mahogany base with bead trim border and ro...
Marble, Bronze
French Marble Top Console by Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in Stamford, CT
A French marble top console with a mirrored back by François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (French, 1770-1841) . Signed Jacob.
Wood
Louis XVI Period Ormolu-Mounted Circular Side Table by G. Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in London, GB
With white marble top above a mahogany frieze with fine ormolu mounts leading to four legs joined by a lower cross form stretcher and terminating in paw feet, stamped 'JACOB.' Georges Jacob was one of the two most prominent Parisian furniture makers, producing carved, painted and gilded furniture and upholstery work for the French royal Châteaux, in the early neoclassical style...
Marble, Ormolu
A Set of Six Jacob Armchairs
By Georges Jacob
Located in Firenze, IT
France, 19th century A magnificent Set of six beautiful French mahogany armchairs, finely carved by George Jacob. Upholster in empire green 100% pure silk fabric. Identical seats ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 35.5 in W 23.5 in D 19 in
Fine Set of Four Louis XVI Giltwood Fauteuils by Georges Jacob Maitre, 1765
By Georges Jacob
Located in Sheffield, MA
A fine set of four Louis XVI giltwood fauteuils, circa 1780 by Georges Jacob Maitre in 1765. Stamped "g. Iacob" on rail Height 35½in. Widt...
Wood