About
Maison DESMALTER, a traditional craftsman whose history dates back to the 18th century with the dynasty of famous cabinetmakers and furniture makers in France.
Always faithful to excellent French know-how and the selection of the finest materials, Desmalter reaffirms itself in the creation of timeless, elegant and authentic objects. We listen to our clients for their individual and customised orders.
THE HISTORY OF THE FAMOUS HOUSE SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY
In 2020, Fedor Georges Savchenko decided to revive the brand whose dynasty of famous cabinetmakers – Georges Jacob, the Jacob-DESMALTER – made its glory in the field of furniture manufacturing in France, being the supplier of 5 Kings and 1 Emperor .
Since 1775, the studio at 57 rue Meslée (now Meslay, Paris, IIIe), in Paris, has worked simultaneously with wood, sculpture, gilding and bronzes.
Maison DESMALTER has recreated the “Imperial Throne” armchair in the Throne Room of the Tuileries Palace in a numbered edition. The armchair is in hand-carved mahogany wood, plated in gold leaf by French artisans and covered with silk velvet. The armrests are carved in the shape of a winged lion – a political and religious symbol,
together with the eight-pointed Imperial Star – which has become a signature of Maison Desmalter.
« Desmalter Imperial Star », the iconic symbol of the brand appears on the jacquard, which is also used for the creation of travel goods and accessories.
In September 2021, willing to enlarge its offer, Desmalter opens a new chapter in its history by launching the line of accessories and leather goods with a tote bag called «Sphinx».
The Lion’s Paw crosses from the Desmalter Armchairs and settles down on the bag as a major element. The unique Jacquard material with “Desmalter Imperial Star” has a particular waterproof finishing on its both sides.
In 2022 Desmalter decided to present the new printed linen canvas which gathered together the ecologic natural fibres and screen printing french tradition .
Timeline
- 1775
- 1803
- 1804
- 1815
- 1825
- 1847
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
1775
Since 1775, the studio at 57 rue Meslée (now Meslay, Paris, IIIe), in Paris, has worked simultaneously with wood, sculpture, gilding and bronzes. The quality of his work was rewarded with a Gold Medal at the Exhibitions of Products of French Industry of 1798, 1801, 1802 and 1806.
1803
On the 13th of November, 1803, the company’s name was changed to Jacob Desmalter & Cie, under the association of father Jacob and his son François-Honoré, by adding the name of “Desmalter” after the family property, in Cheny, in Burgundy, “Les Malterres”.
The productions of this new company will bear the stamp of Jacob D (Desmalter), R. Meslée, or, more rarely, J.D. Their activity is intense, orders flow in.
Soon, the company is at its peak and achieves the envied title of “Carpenter, cabinet-maker, bronzesmith and furniture maker to Their Imperial Majesties …”. They will furnish the Imperial Court and the great French families, but a third part of their production will go abroad. The imperial garde-meuble remains Desmalter’s main customer and it is impossible to cite hundreds of pieces of furniture they deliver for imperial residences, both in France (Tuileries, Élysée, Malmaison, Saint-Cloud, Compiègne, Fontainebleau, Rambouillet, Trianon, Strasbourg) and abroad (Stupinigi castle near Turin, Monte-Cavallo in Rome and Laeken at the gates of Brussels).
1804
In 1804, Desmalter created the ceremonial armchairs for the throne room of the imperial Tuileries palace comprising: the throne armchair, six armchairs, six chairs and thirty-six folding stools. On December 1, 1808, the armchairs were installed in the Throne Room of the Imperial Palace of the Tuileries, the day before the coronation. Desmalter achieved the envied title of “Carpenter, cabinet-maker, bronzesmith and furniture maker to Their Imperial Majesties, Napoleon I”. In 1837, King Louis-Philippe ordered to the painter Nicolas-Louis-François Gosse a historical painting showing the reception of the Austrian Ambassador by Napoleon at the Congress of Erfurt in 1808 (National Museum of the palaces of Versailles and Trianon ). On the painting, Napoleon I receives the Austrian diplomat sent by Emperor Francis I, Baron Vincent. The chairs are placed behind Emperor Napoleon I, behind the King Frederick William of Saxony, behind the Russian Tsar Alexander I, behind the Prince Primate von Dalberg and behind the Prince Talleyrand. Napoleon I reportedly took this suite of “Desmalter” armchairs to Erfurt to impress his counterparts and promote French craftsmanship and inventiveness in design.
1815
Maison Desmalter received orders from Louis XVIII, for royal residences, from the Duchess of Berry, for Rosny-sur-Seine, and many other orders. The company honored orders for furniture from many European royal and imperial palaces such as Windsor , Saint Petersburg, Potsdam.
Roll top desk, bought by George IV from Jaconb Desmalter et Cie, for His Majesty’s Bedroom at Windsor Castle.
1847
Jacob Desmalter et Cie ceised its activity.
2020
In 2020, “DESMALTER” is reborn to perpetuate the glory and beauty of traditional French craftsmanship. Following the launch of the house, the “Imperial Throne” armchair from the Throne Room of the Tuileries Palace has been recreated in a numbered edition.
2021
In 2021, Maison Desmalter opens a new chapter in its history by launching the line of accessories and leather goods.
2022
In 2022 Desmalter decided to present the new printed linen canvas which gathered together the ecologic natural fibres and screen printing french tradition .