françois linke A gilt bronze mounted kingwood and satiné Vitrine Paris, index number 73, late 19th/early 20th Century

of bombé form, the cabinet opening to a mirrored interior with two glass shelves, raised on long cabriole legs joined by a platform stretcher with ebony and boxwood stringings, the lock has been removed to reveal the CT Linke stamp and the number 73. 

Payne, C., François Linke 1855-1946 The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Antique Collector's Club Ltd., Woodbridge, 2003, p. 64, pp. 54 and 55 and p. 487 for photographic illustrations of the present model.

Overall in good condition with the usual minor scratches, dents and nicks to veneers and carcass consistent with age and use. Slight tarnishing to gilt-bronze in places. The door has slightly moved throughout the years. There is a one inch long area of wear opposite the key hole to the edge of the door frame which is consistent with opening the door without the key. As visible in the catalogue illustration, there is a patched chip to the lower part of the door to the left hand side.
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.

This vitrine has the iconic Linke 'crab-like acanthus' gilt-bronze mounts identified by Christopher Payne in Nineteenth Century European Furniture, published in 1981. At the time, it was shown to be a sure sign that a piece was made by the Linke firm, even if it was unsigned. Twenty five years later we now know that most such mounts are stamped FL on the reverse of the original master model and a faint trace of these initials will show on the mounts, together with the model number of the mount. It was only in researching for François Linke 1855-1956, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture that Payne discovered that in fact Linke's sculptor, Léon Messagé, had designed this mount in the early 1880s for the leading Paris firm of Roux et Brunet. Messagé and Linke called the mount a more prosaic '2 crosses à l'angle'.

To date no furniture by the firm with this mount has been identified and it has been assumed that it was only used on Linke pieces when Linke more or less exclusively subcontracted the designs of his bronzes to the recalcitrant Message, who had also worked for Zwiener at this time. Interestingly, a drawing in the Linke Archives shows a simplified design for the present lot without the 'crab-like acanthus' and other mounts. This may have been drawn after Linke had become frustrated with the costs of fitting the more elaborate bronze mounts to this cabinet in an attempt to reduce costs. Linke was constantly berating the monteurs Laurent and Rigalle for taking, in his opinion, too long to carry out this exacting work.

Footnote courtesy of Christopher Payne.