An important pair of Directoire giltwood tabourets, attributed to Jacob Frères circa 1798

Each with the brand of the Château de Saint-Cloud, a label with the inscription Boudoir de Madame Bonaparte and the stenciled inventory number 13798.

Supplied for the Boudoir of Josephine, Madame Bonaparte at the Château de Saint-Cloud, circa 1798 (two from a set of four)
Recorded in the Boudoir of the Empress Josephine in 1807, listed as "No. 686 quatre tabourets en x..."
Purchased by Mrs. Lerner at Buvelot, Camoin, Paris in 1960

Diane Arbus, Revelations, New York, 2003, p. 166
Gladys Freeman, "The Setting is French," Town and Country, November 1962, pp. 110 and 112

With scattered age and construction cracks, dents and abrasions. Gesso with some fine cracks and minor losses and abrasions. X joints below seat with old restored breaks/cracks. Gilding original, now with with some losses and rubbing. Armrests lackinng upholstered padding. Legs blocked.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The design for these tabourets was executed by Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine and published in their Recueil de Décoration Intérieure of 1801. The design includes two different views of the stool and shows the elaborate upholstery. The caption for the tabouret mentions that it was to be executed in Paris and destined for the château de Saint Cloud, which was to be redecorated in the Empire style after Napoleon took up residence there.

The private apartments of the Premier Consul, Napoléon Bonaparte, at St. Cloud were those formerly used by Marie Antoinette. The apartment reserved for Josephine, his wife, whom he had married in 1796, was formerly occupied by Louis XVI. The new installation was supervised by the architect Raimond and the intendant Pfister. Her boudoir covered in white silk and cherry velvet was arranged with furniture designed by Percier, including four tabourets (including the pair offered here) and four fauteuils en gondole carved with swans by Jacob Desmalter (supplied in 1802), now at Malmaison in Salle III Josephine. One of these is illustrated Florence Austin-Montenay, Saint Cloud, Une Vie de Château, Geneva, 2005, p. 145. As the label on the present tabourets refers to Josephine as "Madame Bonaparte" and not as "Empress," it must have been delivered to her prior to her coronation in 1804.  A pair of tabourets of this model also with the inventory number 13798 sold Sotheby's London, June 26, 1987, lot 125. This is presumably the other pair from the original order for Josephine’s boudoir. Interestingly, like the Lerner pair, they are fully gilded and the is no trace of any other decoration. The Malmaison set was green patinated and parcel-gilt.

A set of ten tabourets en X of this model was supplied by Jacob Frères for the Salle du Conseil at the château de Malmaison circa 1800. One if illustrated Jean-Pierre Samoyault, Mobilier Français Consulat et Empire, Paris, 2009, fig. 65. Three of these remain in the same room today, see Château de Malmaison, Guide, p. 59. A pair of tabourets of this model by Georges Jacob and his son and stamped Jacob D. R. Meslee sold Christie's London, July 5, 2001, lot 26. Further two pairs of tabourets of this model were sold Sotheby's London, November 25, 1988, lot 142 and from the collection of René Fribourg Sotheby's London, October 17, 1962, lot 707.

A photo of the five-year-old Michael Lerner on one of these stools by the photographer Diane Arbus is illustrated Diane Arbus, Revelations, New York, 2003, p. 166.