Featured Napoleon Bench

In the house I purchased is this bench.
That's Napoleon.
And it's an ormolu bench, inlaid parquetry with ivory, brass, copper etc..
Central frieze is a sitting portrait, the side friezes are him with the troops, but with odd headgear. Africa??
I think it may be an incredibly special piece.
I would like some info on it and an idea of how to get it into the hands of someone who would love it beyond measure.

 

Jen, it looks like a beautiful bench, but the photos are tiny. Could you do something about the size?
Here is info on how to upload pictures, please remember to click on 'full image' when you post:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/posting-a-thread-and-uploading-pictures.15990/

Posting images from your phone:

iPhone:https://www.antiquers.com/threads/resizing-photos-on-i-phone.35097/

Android phone:https://www.antiquers.com/threads/using-an-android-phone-for-pics-on-antiquers.41709/

 

Sorry!..and fixed.

 

Nope. Still tiny.

Debor

 

Think you need to find a good auction house that specializes in French furniture. If in the US, that may be difficult but sometimes some of the houses will hold Continental specialty auctions.

 

That looks like a truly beautiful bench. So it was just left in the house that’s very lucky. Also where do you live?

 

Difficult to see. But yes maybe traditional headgear from North Africa or Middle East? I don’t really know maybe Ottoman/Trukish?

 

The house was used as a repository of things. So. Many. Things. Previous owner is a total antique hoarder. Thank goodness.
And this bench was one of the things.
And I'm in the US

 

Maybe Janissaries? Janissaries were the Ottoman elite troups, they consisted of Europeans who were robbed from their parents as children. They wore very high headdresses.

The Ottoman empire occupied much of North Africa and the Middle East. The French under Napoleon fought the Ottomans and their Janissaries in Egypt and Syria.

 

Okay, you're in the U.S. Which region? Part of the Louisiana Purchase perhaps?

Debora

 

Jen-Is your house anywhere near New Orleans/Louisiana (many early French & Spanish settlers) ?
I see from the warping on your pocket (sliding) doors,that you live in an old home-perhaps in humid Southern environment ?

 

Jen-Buying a house 'with contents' seems to happen much more in Europe & the UK than the US.I may be wrong-perhaps in the South & New England this happens more often.Seems like most properties are picked down to the bone before they're listed-yeah/nay ?

 

Oooh Aaah!! Thank you! That's amazing! I had googled some of the African campaigns to see if I could see the headresses,

 

Since 1915 there have been several owners, but none have lived in the house.
Until me.. I'm the brave one.
So she has been empty for a very long time. In 1993, someone broke in and built a fire in the morning parlor. The heat from that fire warped the veneer on those doors.
At some point I will .. steam it? And flatten it and reglue.

 

How nice you can see them. We can't. Bigger photographs please.

Debora

 

Some of the furniture, such as the master bedroom suite, are original to the house. But the house was used for a long time as a repository for random antiques.
And there are serving tables and velvet couches and curios and doors and windows and antique sinks and toilets etc.. Oh! A an entire room of chairs and chair frames. I'm going to try my hand at upholstery. Yep.

 

I've deleted and redownloaded the images about 5 times. I hit 'full image', but only the first one goes full. In daylight tomorrow, I will take another round of photos and try those.

 

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Does anyone else wonder if the couch is Napoleonic or Napoleon III?