French Royal Treasures Under the Hammer

At Bruun Rasmussen, four French empire armchairs will go under the hammer on 30 October. The chairs come from the famous Château de Chantilly, also known as the castle where crème Chantilly was invented, and they once graced the halls of the Duke of Aumale, Henri Eugène Philippe Louis d'Orléans (1822–1897), a member of the French royal family.

Historic Jacob Frères Chairs – Aristocratic Favorites

The chairs were made around 1800 by Jacob Frères, sons of the renowned cabinetmaker Georges Jacob. Known for their high quality and refined design, they were highly sought after by the aristocracy and commissioned by Bonaparte, Joséphine de Beauharnais, and the French Republican Government for the Palais des Tuileries in Paris. Crafted in mahogany with delicate carvings of flowers, leaves, and rosettes and upholstered in blue velvet, each chair bears the crowned monogram “H O” and numbers 37–40, confirming their origin in the Duke’s original furnishings.

The Château, Festivities, and the Famous Dessert

Château de Chantilly has a rich history dating back to 1643, when the estate came into the hands of the Bourbon-Condé family, cousins of the Kings of France. The family played a prominent role in French aristocratic life, and under Prince Louis II de Bourbon-Condé, invitations to the château’s festivities were among the most sought-after, earning him the nickname The Great Condé.

The château is also closely associated with the famous dessert crème Chantilly, a light, sweet whipped cream first mentioned in 1784 when the Baroness of Oberkirch described tasting it at a celebration at Château de Chantilly. The cream quickly became a classic in French pastry and remains so to this day.

The Duke and the Condé Museum

In the 19th century, Henri Eugène Philippe Louis d'Orléans ensured that Château de Chantilly continued to be a center of culture and tradition. In addition to restoring the château, which had suffered some damage after the Revolution, he established the Condé Museum with his remarkable collection of art and furniture from the 17th to the 19th century. The museum opened shortly after his death in 1898 and today houses France’s second-largest collection of older paintings after the Louvre, as well as an extensive collection of decorative arts. Preserved in the Duke’s spirit, the museum offers an authentic glimpse into life at the château in the 19th century.

A Piece of History

The four empire armchairs now offered at Bruun Rasmussen are not only fine examples of French craftsmanship; they also represent an important part of Château de Chantilly’s history and French court culture.

The live auction will take place on 30 October, but bidding is already open. The chairs can be viewed at Bruun Rasmussen, Nørgaardsvej 3, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, from 23–29 October.