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The Linke Grand Regulator World's Fair Clock
$785,000
£593,906.41
€685,460.05
CA$1,096,426.53
A$1,219,016.91
CHF 638,081.83
MX$14,950,838.55
NOK 8,124,395.43
SEK 7,670,392.13
DKK 5,115,127.82
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About the Item
Grand Regulator World's Fair Clock
François Linke
Circa 1900
Widely regarded as the greatest sculptural clock ever created, this monumental régulateur by François Linke was conceived as a statement for the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition, a moment when the world’s finest artisans competed on an international stage. Linke, the most celebrated ébéniste of the Belle Époque, was awarded the prestigious gold medal for his display, which critics described as “the biggest event in the history of furnishing art in the year 1900.” Designed in collaboration with the sculptor Léon Messagé, the clock exemplifies Linke’s ambition to elevate furniture and timepieces to the realm of fine art.
The clock represents over a decade of design and craftsmanship. Only six examples of this model were ever completed due to the extraordinary labor and cost involved. Building just one had a production cost of 22,966 francs, the equivalent of approximately eight years' wages for the average French worker in 1900. The clock is illustrated on the spine of Christopher Payne’s definitive monograph on Linke. Mahdi Al-Tajir, one of the world’s most important collectors, later acquired the present model. Another is located at Whitehall, the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach. It was acquired by Rockefeller’s partner, Henry Flagler. Payne himself identified our clock as one of Linke's earliest models because of its vert de mer marble plinth.
Standing over 10 feet tall, the case is constructed from inlaid tulipwood and fruitwood and adorned with masterfully cast ormolu. A celestial globe dial sits at the center, surmounted by Chronos, the Greek god of time, wielding his scythe. Naturalistic ornament, such as cascading water, oak branches, apple blossoms and bulrushes, echoes the dynamic forms of Art Nouveau while grounding the piece in the symbolism of time’s passage. Even the hidden mounts and bell are cast to the highest standards, each stamped with Linke’s name.
Signed "F. Linke"
123" high x 38 3/4" wide x 22" deep
Literature:
Payne, Christopher, François Linke, 1855-1946: The Belle Époque of French Furniture, Woodbridge: Antique Collectors’ Club, 2003, pp. 121, 130-132
- Creator:François Linke (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 123 in (312.42 cm)Width: 38.75 in (98.43 cm)Depth: 22 in (55.88 cm)
- Style:Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1900
- Condition:Repaired.
- Seller Location:New Orleans, LA
- Reference Number:Seller: 32-04421stDibs: LU891145235572
François Linke
François Linke, the most important French ébéniste of his time. Born in Bohemia in 1855, Linke moved to Paris in 1881 where he established his now-famous workshop and showroom. Linke's superior work spread quickly through France and he soon eclipsed even the finest furniture houses of Paris. Today, Linke is counted among the most important furniture makers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his work is dearly coveted by collectors. Linke is celebrated for designing highly innovative furnishings by infusing the Rococo style with the Art Nouveau trends of Paris and this Louis XV style desk exemplifies his highly original style.
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