François Linke 1855 - 1946 AN IMPORTANT AND RARE GILT BRONZE MOUNTED KINGWOOD, SATINÉ AND FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY COIFFEUSE, INDEX NUMBER 1736 Paris, comissioned in 1907, and excecuted in 1908 most certainly for Captain Joseph Raphael De Lamar

fitted with a Sarrancolin Opéra marble top, the frieze with two drawers, signed F. Linke to the female chute on the proper left side.

Payne, C., François Linke 1855-1946: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Antique Collector's Club Ltd., Woodbridge, 2003, pp. 237-238

Overall in good condition. The female putti to the crest flanking the overflowing flanking the well bucket, representing an allegory of "La Source" (the stream) is lacking the finial on her scepter. All bronze mounts have been cleaned.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Linke title: Table à coiffer LXV, violette et satiné, Linke index number 1736

According to Linke's green registre, Linke only made this model twice. The first was made in 1907, Commande number 1019, ordered by Captain Raphael de Lamar, the Dutch adventurer who made his fortune during the Klondike gold strike of 1896-1899. After a hesitant start at the 1900's Exposition Universelle de Paris, buying index number 114, in 1904 De Lamar became an important client for Linke, negotiating with Linke to buy the Grande bibliotheque, number 556, and the grand bureau number 550. Despite Linke's critical success at the exhibition and successful sales of smaller items at the exhibition, apparently he had not succeeded in selling any of the major items and De Lamar was able to buy these major pieces relatively reasonably. De Lamar also bought the unique dinning suite from Linke in 1904, register 726, 727 and 728. Clearly these sales helped to keep Linke's business afloat and the order of the present lot in 1907, together with the accompanying caned dressing table armchair, the toilette chiffonier and the magnificent encrier Louis XV in gilt-bronze with ivory figurines would have been a major commission. The total retail price for the four items was some 54,000 French francs. Most of the work for the present lot was carried out in 1908 invoiced on 26^th August of that year for 17,000 French francs, plus packing. The invoice was made out to De Lamar at 43 Exchange Place, New York. Later De Lamar built a large house at 233 Madison Avenue and filled it with his purchases from Linke. It is now the Polish Consulate. The chasing of the bronzes by Goujon cost 1,935 French francs whereas the wood was only charged at 232 francs. In a similar comparison at the exorbitant cost of the metalwork in general, the mounting of the bronzes by Hostiaux was 1,563.90 francs, whereas Labbe only charged 110 for the marquetry.

Footnote courtesy of Christopher Payne