François Linke 1855 - 1946 A gilt-bronze and Rouge de France marble timepiece, Paris, late 19th century, index number 86, after a design by Léon Messagé

cast with a masquerade theme, the polychromed enamel dial with Arabic numerals, signed Linke to the gilt bronze mount at rear of clock

Christopher Payne, François Linke 1855-1946 The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, 2003, models illustrated pp. 160, 182, 247 and the black and white cliché on p. 487.

Considering the two digit number in François Linke’s register, the present table clock is an early model in the master large register, and said to be as high as 2500 creations. Interestingly, index number 89 molded with a masque de bal can be found on a double bed sold in these rooms, A Private Collection, Vol. I, October 26, 2006, lot 41. Christopher Payne comments on this decorative originality as follows: "Although a familiar device in the fine arts, it is comparatively rare to find a masque de bal on furniture, and very rare in a gilt-bronze sculpture, such as on the footboard of this bed. A possible inspiration for the incorporation of a mask in this innovative design by Léon Messagé is the chandelier by the sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet, which sold at Sotheby's, Paris, November 9, 2005, lot 148.