Live Auction 17186The Collector: Silver and 19th Century Furniture, Sculpture, Ceramics & Works of Art
A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY BIBLIOTHEQUE
Lot 604

A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY BIBLIOTHEQUE

BY FRANÇOIS LINKE, PARIS, INDEX NO. 1131, CIRCA 1900

Closed14 November 2019

Price Realised

GBP 18,750

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A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY BIBLIOTHEQUE
BY FRANÇOIS LINKE, PARIS, INDEX NO. 1131, CIRCA 1900
Of breakfront form, the spreading pediment with ribbon-tied laurel surround above a guilloche scrolled frieze, the two grille doors divided by a quarter-veneered central pilaster with secret door and flanked to each side by a further pilaster with a door, each with beaded frame and headed by a laurel-wreathed female mask, the interior fitted with four adjustable shelves, on a stepped plinth, the lockplate stamped 'CT LINKE / SERRURERIE / PARIS’ and numbered '1131’
62 ½ in. (159 cm.) high; 87 ½ in. (221.5 cm.) wide; 16 ½ in. (72 cm.) deep

Specialist note

This Louis XVI style bookcase made by François Linke as Index Number 1131 is a variation of Index Number 1184 which had a instead a rococo inspired case and is photographed in the Linke Archive. With reference to the exceptional quality of the workmanship, it took 858 hours of cabinetmakers' time and 292 hours to fit the ormolu mounts (see C. Payne. François Linke, 1855-1946 - The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003, p. 444, pl. 524-5).