in Louis XVI style, attributed to F. LINKE, c. 1890/1900, mahogany veneered hardwood frame on conical square legs, rich high-quality bronze ornamentation in the frame area, the leg attachments with festoon decoration and allegories of music, 1 central drawer with spring mechanism (to be released by a push button on the underside of the frieze), each flanked by 1 small drawer, top with bronze doré edging, c. 77 x 109 x 60 cm, in restored condition. (DOC)

Lit.:
François Linke (1855–1946) was probably the leading Parisian cabinet-maker of the Belle Epoque, the dazzling Golden Age of French fashion, whose influence was felt all over the world. Determined to surpass the competition of the World’s Fairs, Linke set out to create the most spectacular and extravagant pieces.
Together with the ingenious bronze founder Léon Message (1842–1901), who also worked independently, he developed a new design that paid homage to the Louis XV style in its flowing approach, whilst also combining it with the dynamic lines of contemporary and progressive Art Nouveau.
This risky venture was a complete success, and thank to its reputation the Linke furniture store became market leader until the beginning of the Second World War. The technical brilliance of his work and the artistic innovation that came with it were virtually unsurpassed. His showrooms had prestigious premises in Paris at the Place Vendôme, as well as in the Faubourg St. Antoine, where his workshop was located. In the years before the outbreak of the First World War he took on many important commissions, designing and manufacturing furniture for leading international industrialists and bankers. Linke remained active until the mid-1930s, receiving many prestigious awards until his death in 1946.