Jean Baptiste Bernard Demay (1759-1848) was born in Paris and was the son-in-law of Claude Séné. His relationship with the famous family of furniture makers facilitated his progression to master in 1784.  He set up in business on 266 Grande Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine and then on 43 rue de Cléry  circa 1806 in the workshop of his father-in-law that he kept after the death of the latter very little after.

He was bankrupted in 1809 but succeeded in continuing his activity for a while, providing numerous seats to the Imperial “Garde-meuble”. After 1814, his workshop collapsed.

He used two different stamps: on one line before the Revolution, and then on two lines with his address.

Our four armchairs are not stamped but their style and execution correspond to the works by Demay. Notably, the description (in mahogany, oval seat, arched and pierced back with arched pediment and a caduceus, circa 1780-90) of a chair from the former R. Imbert collection and stamped by the master, evokes that of our armchairs.