Superb set of four Etruscan mahogany chairs stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée (1797-1803).
This model, with a plank backrest cut at the ends into semi-circles forming scrolls, was created by the company Jacob Frères at the end of the 18th century. 
Derived from the Klismos chair, which launched the fashion for Etruscan taste from 1790, this model by the Jacob Brothers (which François Honoré Georges Jacob Desmalter continued to produce under the Jacob D Rue Meslée brand) stood out from the competition, in particular models from Marcion, thanks to the design of his file. 
In double semi-circles on either side, inlaid in spirals in its perimeter with a blackened pear fillet.
The front legs turned into double balusters, the rear legs into sabers.

This model was so appreciated by the Emperor,  that François Honoré Georges Jacob Desmalter and his brother Georges II, delivered several imperial residences:
-A suite of 12 identical chairs delivered in 1803   to the Château de Saint Cloud. They were subsequently placed in the Grand Trianon in 1837 in the antechamber of Madame Adélaïde (1777-1847), sister of King Louis-Philippe.
-A suite of six identical chairs, enhanced with a flower, delivered to the Palace of Fontainebleau and placed in the Emperor's cabinet. 
-A suite of twelve, with the same file, delivered for the Emperor's bedroom at the Palace of Fontainebleau. 

Superb state of preservation, high quality restoration. 

The feline elegance of this model is underlined by a very beautiful new leopard fabric from Pierre Frey.

Stamped Jacob Frères R MESLÉE on the crosspiece of three of the four chairs. 

Consulate period.

Jacob Brothers (1797-1803):
  From "The cabinetmakers of the 18th century by François de Salverte"
After the end of their father's business, Georges Jacob, his sons Georges and François-Honoré continued the activity together under the name of “Jacob frères”.

Both were born in Paris, the first on May 26, 1768, the other on February 6, 1770.
In the company they ran together until the end of the Consulate, the eldest took care of the commercial administration and the second of the technical part.

The second of the sons called himself Jacob-Desmalter, after a property his father owned in Burgundy. A lover of his profession, very intelligent, very gifted in the arts, he was to acquire among the men of his generation a fame comparable to that of Boulle in the seventeenth century and of Riesener in the eighteenth. Luck served him right from the start. General Bonaparte, on his return from Italy, ordered from the Jacob brothers, for his bedroom in rue Chantereine, some curious military furniture, the bed of which resembled a tent and the seats of drums. These historical documents, given to General Lefèvre-Desnouettes, passed by inheritance to the Count of Harambure, who kept them in his castle of Boran (Oise).
Later, the First Consul called on the same cabinetmakers to refurnish the former royal residences devastated by the Revolution. After having hitherto produced works of very sober taste, which were especially valuable for their character and purity of style, the Jacobs began to manufacture pieces more richly decorated with sculptures and bronzes. Sometimes they also enhanced them with colored wood inlays and porcelain bas-reliefs imitating Wedgwood biscuits. A gold medal was awarded to them at the Exhibition of Year IX, where they had presented in particular two chests of drawers adorned with cameos. They outdid themselves in the following year's competition.
Their shipment included, among other pieces, several tripods in incense burners and a sumptuous carved and gilded wooden console, covered with an Italian mosaic.
These manufacturers used the JACOB FRERES RUE MESLEE mark which they printed on two lines, in tall, spindly letters.
We also find this mark on many cabinets that are part of the State collections, such as the desk built for the First Consul in the shape of a triumphal arch; it is among Joséphine's souvenirs at the Château de la Malmaison.
The eldest of the Jacob brothers died prematurely on 30 Vendémiaire Year XII (October 23, 1803) and François-Honoré formed a new association with his father, under the name of "Jacob Desmalter et Cie", with the stamp Jacob D Rue Meslée._cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_