French First Empire gold leafed carved fire screen with original needlepoint circa 1805
I found some goodies today. First up is a early 19th century period French Empire fire screen with it's original period needlepoint screen embroidered in the middle with the French Imperial Eagle, the regimental symbol used by Napoleon Bonaparte's French armies and also used on decorative arts. This piece is amazing. It is gilded with it's original 22k gold leaf with some red bule showing thru. The piece is carved with beautiful Neoclassical motifs, acanthus leafs with lion paw feet at the bottom. I'm going to say it once more this piece is amazing! unfortunately I'm buying five pieces of furniture right now and can't get this piece at the moment but if it is still there after I finish paying for my pieces it's coming home with me. I can just see it in my 18th century Paris pied-à-terre that I will own one day.
French First Empire gold leafed carved fire screen with original needlepoint circa 1805
French First Empire gold leafed carved fire screen with original needlepoint circa 1805
Beautiful detail of the Neoclassical carving of Honeysuckle and rosettes and mellow color of the original gold leaf
Beautiful detail of the Neoclassical carving and mellow color of the original gold leaf
Beautiful detail of the Neoclassical carving and mellow color of the original gold leaf
The original period needlepoint screen embroidered in the middle with the French Imperial Eagle, the regimental symbol used by Napoleon Bonaparte's French armies and also used on decorative arts.
The lion paw feet at the bottom
The fire screen has it's original period needlepoint screen embroidered with eagle, Loral leaf flower sprigs and medallions. Faded from over 200 years of use this screen would have originally been brightly colored.
The fire screen has it's original period needlepoint screen embroidered with eagle, Loral leaf flower sprigs and medallions. Faded from over 200 years of use this screen would have originally been brightly colored.
Similar period Empire fire screen.
This is a piece of French Lyon silk with Louis Philippe classical pattern that I have been saving for a fire screen.
This is a piece of French Lyon silk with Louis Philippe classical pattern that I have been saving for a fire screen.
1830's Louisiana made saber leg chair with the French Lyon silk from my collection
Detail of 1818 Empire mantel and fire screen during the Clinton administration in the White House.
I also found this piece. I'm just in love with it. I think it is a night stand but I don't know. The Antique Dealer thought it was a piece that could be used in a dinning room by a Butler. The is a fine piece of furniture finished all around. Made of beautiful mahogany. The piece has a gallery on the top that is pierced on the side to be easily picked up. Also the front door is swings on a pin and has not hinges. The interior is very unusual as there are strips of wood in the bottom with spaces in between to allow air to flow. For food? a chamber pot? I don't know but this is a neat piece.
The interior is very unusual as there are strips of wood in the bottom with spaces in between to allow air to flow. For food? a chamber pot?
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You find such fun stuff. Thanks again for sharing. Richard at wwww.myoldhistorichouse.blogspo.com
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Richard.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous of the fire screen... lucky you.. and that table.. interesting with those slats... what needs air???
ReplyDeleteHi, your firescreen (and textiles) are beautiful. It seems that a firescreen, likely the work of Pierre-Antoine Bellangé and bought by James Madison for the White House may have been recently identified, and sold at auction this past weekend (May 19, 2012).
ReplyDeleteA link: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150846978952083&set=o.5692363687&type=1&theater
Best,
Jim
HI Jim
DeleteThanks for your comment and info on the screen.
I'm doing research on my screen but it is hard. Although this screen closely relates to my screen I believe my screen is by Jacob-Desmalter as the carved designs on the frame of the screen closely relates to designs on furniture made by Jacob-Desmalter for Josephine’s private apartment at Fontainebleau in 1808.
The screen has it’s original Neoclassical silk and wool needlepoint with Eagle in center. I have not been able to find a mark on the screen. The needlepoint part of the screen is suppose to slide out from the top. It is stuck but there might be a mark inside. Although I and colleagues do not believe the screen is a Imperial piece of furniture, we have attributed it to Jacob-Desmalter and believe it was possibility made for someone high up in the French Empire court. Since the screen has a history of being in Alabama for some time it could have come over with The Vine and Olive Colony, a group of high ranking officials French Bonapartists who, fearing for their lives after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Bourbon Restoration, attempted to establish an agricultural settlement growing wine grapes and olive trees in the Alabama wilderness.
I'm hoping the address signed on the back of the original needlepoint might shed some light on who might have originally owned the screen. The back cover had new fabric that I removed. The mash on the back of the original needlepoint is singed. M on Ruffard?/ 10 rue du Mount Thabor, PARIS. The rue du Mount Thabor commemorates a 1799 Napoleonic victory over Austrians.
It is in the place Vendome area. This might be a address of the person that did the needlepoint or the original home that the fire screen was made for. I'm trying to do some research to see if this address was important during the French Empire. The current address of 10 rue du Mount Thabor has a building built in 1830 a date too late for my fire screen. More then likely over a 200 year period the addresses have changed.