The reception salon at Malmaison, the Salon de compagnie, was not always as it appears today. It was transformed several times, the first taking place during the First Empire. In 1800, an initial set of furniture was ordered from the Jacob brothers, cabinet makers. That suite of furniture comprised two sofas, two bergères (small upholstered chairs with arms), eight armchairs and twelve chairs, made of mahogany, with Egyptian figures. The chairs are covered in blue silk velvet decorated with gold thread embroidery. Six of the original armchairs survive, and they were bought by the museum in 1986. They are currently on show in the salon, covered in blue velvet decorated with gold thread embroidery.
In 1811, the empress Josephine decided to “upgrade” the furnishings. Jacob-Desmalter delivered to Malmaison two causeuses (love seats), eight large gondola-shaped armchairs, twelve chairs, six x-shaped stools and two footstools. The ensemble was in wood painted in white and gold and covered with petit point embroidery representing two Js interlaced beneath a crown of roses all on a white silk background. It is possible that embroidery was executed by the empress and her ladies in waiting. After the death of Josephine, Eugène considered the furniture as a family heirloom and had it sent to him in Munich. The pieces are held at the Schloss Nymphenburg, but they lack their original upholstery.
As for the furniture currently in the Salon de compagnie at Malmaison, it comes from the palace at Saint-Cloud and was commissioned from the Jacob brothers in 1802 for the empress's salon. The furniture included eight arm chairs, four chairs and two deux causeuses (love seats) in gilt wood, with volutes forming the chair backs, Egyptian figures, the chair arms, as well as two footstools (six other mahogany chairs belonging to this ensemble are kept at Malmaison in storage). These pieces were first placed in this salon in Malmaison in 1866 by Napoleon III when he refurnished the Château. These were covered with yellow “gros de Tours” (coarse grain cloth from Tours) decorated with medallions and bouquets of lilacs, woven in 1812 by Jean-Pierre Seguin in Lyon, for the fourth “petit salon” in the Apartment of Napoleon I at Palace of Versailles but never employed during the empire. First used in 1819 for the Duchesse d'Angoulême, this material (many yards of which must have remained at Saint-Cloud), was sent to Malmaison to be used to recover the furniture in the salon. It is this ensemble which constitutes the Salon Doré. This has not been touched since the Second Empire. Whilst the colours have kept their freshness they have suffered considerable wear and tear.
Claudette Joannis (tr. P.H.)
Chief curator at the Châteaux at Malmaison and Bois-Préau
An Association for the restoration of the Napoleonic furnishings at Malmaison has launched a campaign to raise money for the restoration of the furniture in the Salon Doré. For further information and on how to join the Association, click here.
May 2006
The furniture in the Salon doré at the Château de Malmaison
