FRANCE, late 18th or early 19th century Pair of solid molded mahogany and beech veneered chairs with ormolu lozenges or florets, with slightly upturned bandeau back, inlaid with a star and ribbon punctuated with ebony dots, openwork board with a crosspiece topped by two leaning consoles, resting on four legs, the front tapered, carved with gilded leaf friezes, and the rear saber-shaped. Stamped JACOB FRERES Rue Meslée under the front crosspiece. Directoire or Consulate period. Old labels on the back of the belts bearing the handwritten words ''Salon de Mr GEYLEO''. Old Beauvais tapestry upholstery decorated with a floral wreath and laurel leaves, Empire period. One chair with antique straps. 91 x 47.5 x 54 cm. Partially insolated backs; a few cracks, notably on one backrest, and small uplifts to the backrest veneer; scratches and bumps from use; one crosspiece and one front foot restored; one crosspiece disk missing; wear to upholstery. The Jacob Frères company, associating two sons of Georges JACOB, Georges II JACOB (1768-1803) and François-Honoré-Georges JACOB- DESMALTER (1770-1841), was active between 1796 and 1803. This chair model, with inlaid or non-inlaid backs, was found in the furnishings of several imperial palaces, notably at Malmaison. Provenance : Maître Jacques RIQUET, Hôtel Drouot, salle 1, sale November 9, 1953. Attached is a clipping from the France-Soir newspaper of November 11, 1953, reporting the very high price of 291,000 Francs, including fees (21.20%), obtained for this pair of chairs.