François Linke Center Tables

Exquisite and refined, this Louis XIV centre table is a stunning example of craftsmanship by the illustrious cabinetmaker François Linke, inspired by the original design of Jules Deg...

An Exceptional Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XV Style Kingwood and End Cut Foliate Marquetry Vitrine Table by François Linke François Linke – Index Number 168 Slightly bombe serpentine outline, the hinged top with a beveled glass top lifting to reveal a red felt lined interior, the conforming marquetry waved frieze inlaid with floral budding foliage, centered to the front and back with a stylized ‘crab’ acanthus escutcheon, the sides with ribbon-tied laurel mounts, standing on cabriole legs headed by foliate clasps running to scrolled acanthus sabots. Inscribed F. Linke to the top right rim. The same model table is pictured on page 165 in “François Linke 1855-1946 The Belle Epoque of French Furniture” By Christopher Payne. Featuring Linke’s signature ‘crab’ clasp, index number 168 was simultaneously produced both as a vitrine-table or bijoutière and a center-table. Each variation was also available with either chutes ‘à fleurs’ to the angles, as in the present example, or with chutes ‘à caryatides’. The low number of 168 itself is an indication that it is a very early model from Linke’s stable. 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 in St. Louis, the Liege in Belgium and the 1908 Franco-British exhibition in London. Linke’s highly original designs sprang from the Régence and Rococo styles but were imbued with something quite new – Rococo curves were laden with gilt-bronze sculptural mounts in the tradition of A.-C. Boulle (1642-1732) or Charles Cressent (1685-1758). Stylistically, the new designs still adhered to the Rococo; the novelty, however, was Linke’s fusion of the Rococo with the liveliness and the fluidity of the ‘art nouveau’. The Revue called Linke’s creations entierement nouveau, and continued to say that ‘Linke’s stand...

Francois Linke center table with bronze basket and mounts, France circa 1880 Offered for sale is a Francois Linke (1855-1846) Louis XV s...

Fine Louis XV style ormolu-mounted ladies writing table by Francois Linke A lovely, elegant Louis XV style bronze-mounted mahogany ladies writing table, or side table, with one dr...

A fine and rare Louis XVI style table de salon, by Francois Linke. A fine quality table with exquisite bronze mounts along with detailed marquetry inlay...

A magnificent late 19th/early 20th century gilt bronze mounted mahogany and marquetry center table by François Linke. The shaped rectangular top depicting an allegory of scienc...

A fantastic quality late 19th century Louis XVI style bronze-mounted center table by François Linke.  Index number 879. This fine table de salon was titled 'Table Louis XVI ...

A late 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted center table. By François Linke. Sunburst top, the frieze centered by satyrs carrying a drunken Bacchus flanked by ribbo...

A rare and fantastic quality late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted inlaid marquetry and parquetry center table. By François Linke. The crossbanded oval top wit...