A (possibly Royal) German Empire cream-painted and gilt suite of seat furniture, designed by or in the manner of Leo von Klenze, circa 1810-1830

According to family tradition formerly from the collection of Jérôme Bonaparte at Schloss Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel (unfortunately further without any specific proof);

Previous family residence in Munich;

After 1945 ex-collection Georg Weigang (1904-1978), Berlin Grünewald (see image showing the suite and further items in situ in the early 1960s) and thence by descent to the present owners. 

RELATED LITERATURE

Kreisel, Heinrich und Georg Himmelheber, Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels. Möbel und Vertäfelungen des deutschen Sprachraums von den Anfängen bis zum Jugendstil. Dritter (3.) Band: Klassizismus - Historismus – Jugendstil, Munich 1973, ill. 532-538;

Brigitte Langer, Alexander von Württemberg, Hans Ottomeyer, Die Möbel der Residenz München, Bd.3, Möbel des Empire, Biedermeier und Spätklassizismus, Munich-New York 1997

The present suite is stylistically comparable with French Empire examples – especially with seat furniture made by the ébéniste Pierre Benoît Marcion (1769-1840) – but notwithstanding the French Aubusson upholstery, its much more robust and vigorous appearance indicates a German origin. One of the main representatives and drivers of the Empire style in Germany was the architect and designer Franz Karl Leopold von Klenze, (1784-1864). Von Klenze started his career at Schloss Wilhelmshöhe in the service of Napoleon's brother Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte (1784-1860), king of Westphalia, (1807-1813).

When Jérôme and Princess Catharina of Württemberg took residence in Kassel, they found the palaces in a plundered state, leading them to place orders for an array of stately furniture and expensive silverware with leading Parisian manufacturers. Local artisans, eager for commissions, oriented themselves with these French Napoleonic Empire models. The king also intended to renew the architecture of his capital city, and Leo von Klenze was commissioned to design and construct the court theatre next to his summer residence "Wilhelmshöhe", then renamed "Napoleonshöhe". In 1815 von Klenze moved to Munich where he became court architect and designer for King Ludwig I of Bavaria.

Schloss Wilhelmshöhe was heavily damaged during WWII and unfortunately most of its interior was lost. However, the many remaining pieces of furniture which Klenze designed, made in Munich – especially those made for Ludwig I of Bavaria in the Residenz in Munich – offer various comparisons to the present suite.