Majestueux lit de composition en bois doré et doré de style Louis-Philippe

Description

A Majestic Louis-Philippe Giltwood and Gilt Composition King Size Bed, after a model by Francois-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter,

The outwardly curved headboard flanked by two open-winged swans on foliate cornucopia supports ending in hoof-feet, the side-boards decorated with flower-filled scrolling acanthus and flower garlands, the foot-end with conforming cornucopia supports overflowing with fruits and flowers.This bed is identical in design to the one supplied to the Empress Joséphine by Francois-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter for Malmaison in 1810 (L. de Groër, Les Arts Décoratifs de 1790 à 1850, (Fribourg), 1985; p. 84, fig. 137).  An inventory taken upon the death of Joséphine of the contents of Malmaison lists in 1814 as item 486: …une couchette en bois sculpté et doré, avec son estrade, couverte en drap rouge, garnie de trois matelas de laine couverts de futaine blanche…

This bed was moved to Bavaria by her son, prince Eugène, who gave it to Napoléon III when he visited Malmaison in 1867. (S. Grandjean, Inventaire après Décès de I’Impératrice Joséphine à Malmaison, (Paris), 1964, pp. 99 and 100).