François Honoré Georges JACOB-DESMALTER (Paris, 1770-1841), attributed to Armchair with swans. Paris, circa 1805 Mahogany; upholstery in tapestry and passementerie Height 106 cm - Width: 80 cm - Depth: 66 cm (Damages) Our carved mahogany armchair has a sumptuous decoration of swans with raised wings forming the armrests, identical to that of the chairs that now furnish the German Embassy (fig. 1). Another set, also attributed to Jacob Desmalter, ordinary supplier to the imperial court, is kept at Malmaison (fig. 2). As here, these large ceremonial armchairs with their crossbow backs are decorated on the waist with two opposing arrows centred on a star. The front legs are shaped like a full quiver. This swan with its wings raised seems to have appeared for the first time in 1803 at Malmaison, on Joséphine's bed signed Jacob Frêres. At the time, the Empress had just introduced black swans to Europe, which she had managed to acclimatise on her estate. The animal became a favourite theme for her furniture, which she preferred in gilded or white lacquered wood.