Pair of Directoire Cream-Painted Slipper Chairs

Of typical form, raised on legs ending in casters.

Each upholstered backrest with backscrolled top rail above an upholstered seat flanked by arm rests, raised on ring-turned legs; each stamped JACOB FRERES / RUE MESLEE on back rail, ...

The crestings above solid vase-shaped splats, the waisted uprights above shaped drop-in seats raised on cabriole legs with pad feet. Possibly American.  

In the neoclassical taste, the open reeded spouts above ovoid bodies with leaf-clasped socles on square bases, the handles terminating in a female mask. This pair of ewers...

A Directoire Mahogany Bergère Attributed to Georges Jacob, its curved back and padded armrests with finely carved baluster-shaped supports raised on turned front legs and sabre back legs. With a spurious Jacob stamp to back rail. The term "Directoire" refers to a historical period following the French Revolution (1789) and preceding the First Empire when Napoleon reigned, but also to a style of furniture and decoration covering a longer period from 1789 to 1804. It is characterized by the production of furniture with simplified forms and ornaments, inspired by antique decorations. The profound social and political upheavals that marked this period had a direct impact on the production of Directoire furniture. The stripping down of furniture pieces, which had begun in the 1780s under the influence of Greek art, was accentuated during this period. The abolition of guilds by the revolutionaries also forced manufacturers in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine to simplify shapes and materials. Elegant and graceful, the furniture is generally small-scale. They retain the Louis XVI structure. The Directoire style adopts clean shapes, straight lines, simple curves, flat surfaces and right angles. Lines accentuate geometric shapes inspired by Antiquity. A typical trait is the pronounced rolled-over back, similar to a scroll illustrated in our bergere, evocative of the klismos chair. Only the more luxurious pieces of furniture use mahogany, an exotic and expensive wood. Despite his humble origins, Georges Jacob rose to become one of the most renowned menuisiers of his day. Unlike many artisans who joined their fathers or brothers in the middle-class family trade of furniture making, Jacob was from a peasant family and moved to Paris at sixteen to begin his career. He apprenticed in a joinery workshop and eventually became a master in 1765. He developed a reputation for producing inventive designs for chairs, beds, and screens carved with such motifs as twisted ribbons, guilloches, beading, and fluting. Jacob's reputation grew quickly, eventually spreading outside France; the future King George IV of England, Gustavus III of Sweden, and several German princes...

Of rectangular shape, with a tôle liner and bronze gallery and raised on an integral plinth with wooden roulettes, stamped to one side on the interior JACOB FRERES RUE MESLEE. Jacob...

Pair of Directoire style slipper chairs with needle point upholstery, gilt highlights, and nailhead trim.

A great pair of slipper chairs ca' early 1950's. Dark brown frames, reupholstered in period green/brown fabric.

A pair of elegant Tomlinson lounge chairs. Caned back with loose seat cushion. Sculptural, wrap around back support.

Mid-Century Modern slipper chairs with chrome base in the manner of Florence Knoll. Comfortable angled backs with polished chrome base. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - ...

Pair of John Stuart for Widdicomb 1950's walnut slipper chairs. Tapered legs ending with brass sabots and a handsome dowel rod back. Newly up...

Pair of highly carved Asian slipper chairs from 1900.