Vitrine, Index No. 38, Paris, circa 1890.
A superb Louis XV-style vitrine by François Linke, recorded in his workshop archives as Index No. 38.
Executed in Paris around 1890 in kingwood and satiné, with finely chased gilt-bronze mounts and a Sèvres-style jasperware plaque. Brèche Violette marble top. The curved glazed panels, marble top, and refined ormolu ornamentation reflect Linke’s early mastery in merging 18th-century grace with the Belle Époque spirit.
Signed “F. Linke” (see image)
Illustrated in Christopher Payne’s François Linke: The Belle Époque of French Furniture (Index 38).
François Linke, born in Bohemia in 1855, became the most celebrated Parisian ébéniste of the Belle Époque. Establishing his workshop in Paris in 1881, he achieved fame at the 1900 Exposition Universelle for his innovative reinterpretations of classical French forms. His creations, combining impeccable craftsmanship with the flowing elegance of Art Nouveau, graced royal residences and the homes of Europe’s elite.
Provenance: Private collection, Athens.
Dimensions: Height 149cm, width 67cm and 38cm deep.