A Rare Belle Epoque Parquetry Inlaid Centre Table, By François Linke

A gilt-bronze mounted parquetry inlaid centre table, Attributed to François Linke. French, circa 1900. The circular parquetry top of diapered trellis with gilt-bronze edging ab...

A Rare Belle Epoque Gilt-Bronze Mounted Parquetry Inlaid Grand Buffet, By François Linke, The Mounts Designed by Léon Messagé. Signed to the right corner clasp ‘Linke’ The enamel...

An Exceptionally Rare and Important Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Inlaid Centre Table by François Linke, the Mounts Designed by Léon Messagé. Linke Index No. 930. Signed 'Linke' to the upper bronze moulding. Stamped 'FL' to the reverse of the bronze mounts. Stamped to the carcass 'Made in France’. Of exhibition quality this magnificent table has a fine marquetry inlaid top and sumptuous gilt-bronze mounts, designed and sculpted by Léon Messagé. The shaped gilt-bronze mounted serpentine top is finely inlaid with scrolling bois de bout floral marquetry, above an undulating frieze set to the front with a long drawer and centred by a female mask, the sides are mounted with exuberant scallop-shell mounts and the angles with lively and emotive female espagnolettes emblematic of Modestie and Coquetterie; the table is raised on cabriole legs terminating in shell-capped scrolled sabots. A rare example in Linke’s oeuvre, the table is a variation of a larger example index number 930, described by Linke as modèle riche, which included an elaborate stretcher with banner-bearing cherubs based on Léon Messagé's celebrated sculptural group 'La Source' (illustrated C. Payne, François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003; p.172, Pl. 186). Linke workshop's cliché of the larger modèle riche is illustrated in C. Payne, François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003; p.483. The exceptional sculptural mounts are characteristic of the very finest 19th Century furniture created through François Linke and Léon Messagé’s collaboration. Messagé’s enhanced Louis XV Rococo style embraces the asymmetrical lines of designers such as J.A. Meissonnier, to create lively and emotive figures linked by sinuous encadrement, but cleverly modernised to reflect the surge of popularity of the Art Nouveau. The female busts, referred to by Linke as Coquetterie et Modestie, although reminiscent of the paintings of François Boucher and Flaconet have moved on in their design from the classical espagnolette, introduced by Charles Cressent in the 18th century, to become something new and vital. Designed for the celebrated 'Commode coquille: Coquetterie et Modestie' (index 559), presented at his award-winning stand at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris, (C. Payne, François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003; p.142-144, pl. 151), Linke was obliged to purchase their design at a tremendous cost from Messagé. First castings began in 1897 and they proved fruitful for Linke, becoming a favourite mount, repurposed by Linke for use on a number of important designs. The larger version of the current table was intended to be displayed en suite with the commode but was not ready in time for the exhibition. It was first exhibited at the Salon des Industries du Mobilier in 1902, and again in Liège in 1905 (C. Payne, François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003; p. 170-173). Available in three sizes, 132 cm x 72 cm, 138 x 75 cm and an even larger version (index no. 965) the design proved popular with Linke’s clientele, which included commissions supplied to Elias Meyer in 1909 (Illustrated C. Payne; p.243, pl. 258), Madame d’Astoreca in 1910, Antonio Devoto...

An important and rare gilt-bronze, mahogany and Bois Satiné centre table, with campan rubané marble top. By François Linke. Linke index number 1103. The g...

A fine Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted and parquetry inlaid centre table, by François Linke. Signed 'F. Linke' to the bronze rim. Stamped 'FL' to the reverse of the bronze mo...

An important gilt-bronze mounted parquetry inlaid piano a queue, by François Linke, the Movement by Erard.  Signed 'F.Linke' on the keyboard cover mold...

A Louis XVI style parquetry centre table firmly attributed to François Linke Constructed in Kingwood, Tulipwood and Mahogany, with foliate inlay work, parquetry and Fine ormolu b...

A rare and fantastic quality late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted inlaid marquetry and parquetry center table By Franc¸ois Linke. Franc¸ois Linke. The crossbanded oval top with central parquetry panel surrounded by floral and ribbon tie marquetry, above frieze with four drawers, bronze mounted tapering legs joined by a bronze mounted stretcher. Signed F. Linke to the top corner of one leg Back of lock stamped Ct. Linke and the number 402. Linke was born in Pankraz in Bohemia and was celebrated by the French as one of the greatest ébénistes of meubles de style at the turn of the century. He began his apprenticeship with a Bohemian master at the age of thirteen. Four years later, he toured Austria, settling and working in Vienna for two years. Linke arrived in Paris in 1875, and by 1881 he had established his own small workshop at 170 rue du Faubourg St. Antoine. Taking 18th century styles as his starting point and adapting earlier styles to contemporary taste, Linke produced fine quality furniture, steadily expanding his business during the next 20 years. He firmly established his reputation after receiving a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900 for his extraordinary Grand Bureau. He continued to use international fairs as a means of exploring new markets, exhibiting at the 1904 World’s Fair...

A good quality late 19th century French gilded ormolu-mounted centre table. The top having quartered veneers, rococo style mounts, with monopodia supports to the cabriole legs, termi...

A fantastic late 19th century gilt bronze-mounted Louis XV style kingwood centre table By François Linke With serpentine-grey and yellow marble top, above a frieze drawer centr...

François Linke, (1855-1946) A Louis XV style ormolu-mounted kingwood and parquetry mueble d'appui, By Francois Linke, Index number 204, For Maison Krieger, Paris, Early 20th cen...

A parquetry inlaid side table, having a hinged top, opening to reveal a shaped and divided compartment within. The bronze trimmed cartouche formed top with cross banding intertwined ...