A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY RECAMIER

Born in the Netherlands, Jean-Henri Jansen (1854-1929) originally a tapissier-decorateur, moved to Paris and from his shop at 9, rue Royale, established an interior decorating business which soon achieved international renown. Initially relying on purchasing antique items and engaging outside ébénistes, including François Linke, to make new pieces, by the 1890s Jansen established their own manufacturing capability which in time incorporated Emmanuel Zwiener’s old workshops at 2, rue de la Roquette. The present chaise longue designed in the French Empire style dates to this period and can be attributed to Linke or Zwiener who both became shareholders in a new company, Jansen et Cie, that would become world famous with branches in New York, Milan, London, Cairo and Alexandria as well as Buenos Aires, Havana, Prague, Sao Paolo and Geneva. Jansen counted among a huge array of commissions many illustrious clients including King Alfonso XII of Spain, William III of the Netherlands, Tsar Nicolas II and King Edward VII for Buckingham Palace. In the 20th century the decorators Stéphane Boudin and Pierre Delbée were instrumental in developing the Jansen house style, modelling famous interiors for John F. Kennedy’s White House, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor at their Parisian house near Bagetelle and Lady Baillie at Leeds Castle in Kent, England.