A GROUP OF LOUIS XV STYLE GILT-BRONZE DESK SET, BY LÉON MESSAGÉ, LATE 19TH CENTURY

This complete set of desk accessories is an impressive example of Léon Messagé's celebrated skills as a designer re-interpreting the Louis XV style for 19th century collectors. As he primarily collaborated with Linke and Zwiener throughout his career, this is also an important testament of Messagé's work as an independent sculptor. This inkstand is one of two encriers exclusively signed by the Parisian designer and the only known complete set by him to appear on the market.  

The design for the inkstand is based after a series of drawings published by Messagé in his Cahier des Dessins & Croquis, Style Louis XV. The drawings show the progression for the design of the inkstand. On one occasion the inkstand lacks a figure while in other sketches the figure is positioned differently, either at the center or on the left. Given this present lot and the inkstand presented at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, it appears clear that Messagé executed in gilt-bronze several of his options.  

The encrier for Linke's stand at the 1900 Exposition Universelle was modelled by Messagé as two putti each with a paddle, seated on a similarly shaped foliate cast scrolling base. The execution of this model cost Linke the hefty sum of 2,024 francs, of which 559 was chasing the pattern and 1,151 francs was for the sculptor's work, which amounted to forty hours. By 1921, the model was also available in solid silver with a cost for production of 2,700 francs. Therefore one cannot underestimate the value, originality and complexity of the present larger inkstand which would have taken even more skills and hours to perfect. 

An example of an inkstand after the model no. 709 from the 1900 Exposition Universelle was sold at Christie's London, 23 May 2019, lot 620 [£20,000]. The only other known inkstand signed by Messagé with a slight difference in design was sold Sotheby's New York, 20 April 2007, lot 125 [$36,000].

Léon Messagé (1842-1901) 

When he was 20 years old, Messagé is recorded as a "sculpteur sur pierre". In his studio at 40 rue Sedaine, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, he starts to collaborate with François Linke and provides him with sketches for furniture pieces and gilt-bronze mounts. During his collaboration with Linke, Messagé is best known for his contribution to Linke's stand at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. As he collaborated with Zwiener and was awarded a gold medal at the 1889 International Exhibition, 

Messagé enjoyed great success before his collaboration with Linke. Messagé's designs fundamentally showcase a light-hearted Rococo infused with the asymmetrical character of this style as developed by Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier in the 1720s. 

RELATED LITERATURE

C. Payne, François Linke (1855-1946), The Belle Epoque of French furniture, Woodbridge, 2003, p.72, p.90, pl. 197, pp.149-150.