EMPIRE PERIOD CONSOLE TABLE From the collection of Marshal Duroc, Duke of Frioul In carved wood, cream lacquered and partly gilded, with a white marble top, the belt decorated with flowers in medallions, flanked by culottes, supported by columnar front jambs decorated with lotus leaves, pilasters at the back, joined by a plinth, a label inscribed "MOBILIER DU M. LE DUC DE FRIOUL. LE DUC DE FRIOUL / N°. de / l'Inventaire, 77 / Rez de chaussée / 3. Salon / Une console / sculptée", numbered in black stencil "2675, I 2873"; minor accidents, alterations. Marks: "TH" (for Palais des Tuileries) and three fleurs-de-lys under a closed crown H. Height: 100.5 cm l. 139 cm P. D : 50 cm Provenance : - Géraud Christophe Michel Duroc (1772 - 1813), Duke of Frioul at the Tuileries Palace; - Former Christopher Forbes collection; - Sale on 6 March 2016, lot 264 Acquired during the latter sale by the current owner. An Empire parcel-gilt and cream lacquered console Our console belongs to the collection of Géraud-Christophe-Michel Duroc, who took an active part in the campaigns in Italy, Egypt, Austria and Prussia. In 1808, he received the title of Duke of Friuli as part of the creation of the nobility of the Empire. Appointed Grand Marshal of the Palace in 1804, he was responsible for Napoleon I's security and the administration of the Emperor's household. We find mention of our console in number 77 of the inventory of his flats in the Tuileries Palace drawn up in 1811 (1): "A carved and gilded wooden console reupholstered in white, front legs with balusters, back legs with rosettes, double spade and ... Top in sea green marble profiled over 3cm high 99 long 1.51 prof 48" valued at 760 francs. The inventory indicates that the console was in the ground floor salon of the Duchess of Frioul, Marie-des-Neiges Martinez de Hervas, wife of the Grand Maréchal d'Empire. In 1810, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Frioul was converted to accommodate the small flats of Empress Marie-Louise and the King of Rome. Following the death of the Duke, hit by a cannonball in May 1813, all his furnishings were acquired by the Crown's furniture repository for 181,740.90 francs on 7 July 1813 (2). Our console is mentioned again in correspondence between Napoleon and Marc-Antoine Desmazis, General Administrator of the Imperial Furniture from 1804 to 1814, concerning the Duke of Frioul's estate and this acquisition: "The flat [of the Duke of Frioul] was furnished at the end of 1810, it was only occupied for part of 1811 and 1812, this furniture is in very good condition, it was very well established and the furniture [...] can be considered as new. [...] As the rooms in the flat of Monsieur le Duc de Frioul are almost all made of silk, this furniture can only be suitable for this flat; it would lose much of its value if it were removed [...] This flat could be one of those intended for H.M. the King of Rome [...] This flat could also be used to receive a great dignitary" (3). (1) A.N: O2704 Inventaire du mobilier de Monsieur le duc de Frioul Grand Maréchal du Palais octobre 1811, Folio 15. (2) A.N: O2687 and O2530 Year 1813 Purchase of the furniture left by the Duke of Frioul in the flat he occupied in the Tuileries Palace, Statement of payment proposals. (3) A.N: O2531 Garde Meuble, also contains a copy of the 1811 inventory dating from 1813 and listing the furniture purchased by the Garde Meuble. Missing Missing