François Linke 1855 - 1946 A LOUIS XV STYLE GILT BRONZE MOUNTED KINGWOOD, SATINÉ AND BOIS DE BOUT FOLIATE MARQUETRY UPRIGHT PIANO Paris, index number 783, made between 1900 and 1902

the proper right chute of the front cabriole leg signed F. Linke, the musical instrument by Erard Paris with serial number 80373.

Christopher Payne, François Linke 1855-1946 The Belle Époque of French Furniture, Antique Collectors Club, Woodbridge, 2003, pl. 536, p. 451, for a variant of index number 783

Overall in good condition. The gilt bronze with tarnishing and wear consistent with age and use. The veneers with nicks, scratches, dents, a few minor restorations as well as losses in places. Notably, the proper left side with an oval dent of approximately 1/2 inch long and a veneer loss along bottom edge approximately 1 1/2 inch square. The lid with three minor areas of in-fill to satiné now showing a reddish color, each approximately 1/4 inch square. Minor loss of veneer to proper left side of keyboard frame. The upright bottom panel with a rather large dent 2 in. x 2 1/4 in. Crackling to varnish to the lower platform supporting the legs. One veneer loss 2 in. x 2 in. to the lower edge of proper right 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 piano, one of only two upright models known to have been made by the Linke workshops was made as number 783. However his other upright example carries the same index number despite being very different, made in the Empire style, (both illustrated: Payne, Linke, p. 451).  The Linke price list is empty for this page, although an inscription in pencil indicates that it refers to a piano.  Thus there are no details as to the movement(s) which had not yet been installed, suggesting that it was the piano maker who actually fitted the movements to the finished case. The archive holds all the cabinet maker's plans for Linke pianos and subtle differences can be traced between the two cases for number 783.  The present lot has the same complex curves to the sides and base supporting the cabriole legs as a model recorded in a cliché
(illustrated, Payne, Linke, p. 451), but with an arc-en-arbolette curve to the underside of the lid   and slightly different mounts.  Both the cliché and the present lot display marquetry work indebted to Linke's mentor Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener, although the outlining gilt-bronze mounts are less fussy on both the Linke examples. Interestingly, the Linke archive has a watercolor of an identical case in outline to the present lot but with mounts adapted from Linke's celebrated Commode Figaro, index number 553, that was exhibited at Linke's gold medal winning stand at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle.

Footnote courtesy of Christopher Payne.