François Linke
An Important Pair of Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Kingwood Marble Top Commodes
French, Circa 1891.
Height: 96 cm / 38 inches
Width: 133 cm / 52 inches
Depth: 59 cm / 23 inches
An Important Pair of Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Kingwood Marble Top Commodes by François Linke. The serpentine marble tops above conforming bombe cases set with three drawers with scrolling foliate encadrement, the corners mounted with male and female espagnolettes, on splayed legs with shell capped scrolled sabots. Designed circa 1891, these commodes formed part of the furnishings of Linke’s private apartment at the Quai Henri IV, on the right bank of the Seine in Paris.
Signed 'Linke' to the right-hand espagnolettes, the locks stamped 'L. Vasseur/Paris'. The bronze mounts stamped to the reverse ‘FL’.
Linke Index Number: 245.
Linke Title: Commode Louis XV à trois tiroirs avec marquetery violette.
The original design for this model of commode started out as an early example of the collaboration between Linke and Leon Message, inspired by a smaller commode of similar spirit as shown in Message's personal sketchbook (illus. C. Payne, Linke, pl. 85). However, the Blue Daybook drawing shows the fully developed commode with the distinctive winged foliate handles that Message favoured. It might be assumed that this device is Message's idea of an amusing play on his own family name, the wings being the attributes of Mercury the messenger.
This model of commode was produced in two sizes and in several variations. Besides this parquetry version a bulrush marquetry model and a plain veneered model were offered. The bulrush version is illustrated in: Adrian Alan, Vol V, p.60-61.
Provenance:
François Linke’s daughter, Quai Henri IV, Paris.
Literature:
Payne, Christopher: 'François Linke, 1855 - 1946, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture', 2003, pp. 68-9, pl. 65, 85.
Meyer, Jonathan: 'Great Exhibitions', Antique Collectors club, Woodbridge, 2006, p. 298 - 300.
Denise Ledoux-Lebard, 'Les Ebenistes du XIX Siecle', pps 439-43.
'Revue Artistique & Industrielle', July-August 1900.
'The Paris Exhibition 1900', ed. D. Coral Thomsen, Art,Journal, 1901, p.341
Adrian Alan Ltd, ‘Fine English & Continental Furniture & Works of Art’, Vol. V, Cambridge, 2006, p.60 - 61.