A gilt-bronze mounted kingwood and hand-cut marquetry side cabinet by François Linke, Paris late 19th/early 20th century

the breche d’alep serpentine fronted marble top above a single cupboard door opening to a shelving adjustment, flanked by four shaped small drawers on each side, the corners headed by large espagnolette chutes, the front and sides with floral marquetry within scrolled foliate encadrements, the locks stamped CT. LINKE / PARIS within an oval.  Two locks missing.

It is interesting to note that the locks are stamped Ct. Linke / Paris within an oval.  Clément Linke was one of François Linke's younger brothers who came to Paris circa 1896 to help the rapidly expanding business of François.  At this time, few of Linke's pieces were signed although Clement started to make locks, numbering each lock in accordance with Linke's sequential system.  These locks were normally within a rectangle with chamfered corners.  The present lock has the Clément Linke name within an oval and without a number.