Ornemanist
(1842-1901)                                               

F. Linke

Cabinet-maker and Bronze-caster
(1855-1946)                                                                                                       

(attributed to)

« The Source »

France
Circa 1890

Gilded bronze

Height : 26,4 cm (10,4 in.) ; Width : 14 cm (5,5 in.) ; Depth : 9 cm (3,5 in.)

Charming clock in the shape of a Rocaille-inspired cartel in chiseled and gilded bronze. Scalloped marine-inspired decor representing a trophy with oars, dolphins, reeds and flowers on a trellis background. The white enamel dial is surmounted by an allegory of the Source personified by a Cupid pouring water from a pot and holding an oar. Ending with four arched legs, it rests on a scrolled terrace decorated with acanthus and rocks. The design of this clock is characteristic of the style of Léon Messagé.

related work

Similar gilded bronze clock with the design attributed to L. Messagé. C. Payne, Francois Linke 1855-1946: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Antique Collector’s Club Ltd., Woodbridge, 2003, pl. 104, p. 93

biography

Léon Messagé is a renowned designer and sculptor who integrated in his ornaments related to the Rocaille asymmetry, new lines and shapes announcing the “Art Nouveau” style. But even though, Messagé found inspiration with these 18th century artists, such as Nicolas Pineau or J. A. Meissonier, he didn’t simply copy their work and showed great originality, even extravagance, with some designs contained in “Cahier des dessins et croquis style Louis XV”. He realized numerous sketches on grey paper before the execution of a reduced or life sized model of his ornaments, made of wax or terra-cotta. From 1885, Léon Messagé started working with important Parisian cabinet-makers such Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener (1849-1895) and François Linke (1855-1946). François Linke developed his personal style, with such talent and quality that he was named during the 1900 Universal Exhibition the “Linke Style”. His tremendous success and his particular formal imagination came from his association with the designer Léon Messagé. The mutual influences concerning these three artists can be concretely observed in numerous realizations.

François Linke, born in 1855 in Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), worked as a cabinet-maker in Paris from about 1882 until his death in 1946. In 1900, at the apex of his career, he opened a new shop at the famous Parisian place Vendôme. He specialized in Louis XV and Louis XVI style furniture: all pieces were beautifully mounted with gilt-bronze ornaments, and he received numerous commissions. Later Linke decided to collaborate with the well-known sculptor Léon Messagé and integrated new lines and shapes announcing the “Art Nouveau” style. His great success is definitely the 1900 Universal Exhibition where he was awarded the gold medal for his extraordinary kingwood desk, designed by Messagé. At this occasion, the “Revue artistique et industrielle” commented that “Linke’s stand is the biggest show in the history of art furniture”.

The post L. Messagé & F. Linke <br/> “The Source” appeared first on Tobogan Antiques.

Cabinet-maker & Bronze-caster
(1855-1946)
(attributed to)

Pair of Renaissance revival cabinets

France
Circa 1880

Cabinet 1 – Height : 152 cm (59,8 in.) ; Width : 96 cm (37,8 in.) ; Depth : 48 cm (18,9 in.)
Cabinet 2 – Height : 150 cm (59 in.) ; Width : 87,5 cm (34,4 in.) ; Depth : 42 cm (16,5 in.)

Rare pair of French Renaissance style ebonized cabinets. Composed of an architectured upper part, with inlaid panels alternated with fine fluted columns, opening with a central door onto an exquisite ebony filet framed sycamore veneered interior fitted with shelves. The decor of the panels inlaid with blend wood onto ebonized background is made of very fine designed motifs such scrolls, grotesques and flowery vases, all characteristic of the Renaissance decorative repertoire. The lower section with three drawers above a three arched support adorned with columns, raised on a stepped base ; the back with similarly-inlaid decoration.

These neo-Renaissance style cabinets are very close to François Linke’s one presented in his private collection.
(Reproduced and commented in François Linke (1855-1946), The Belle Epoque of French Furnitures, Ch. Payne, pp.40-41).
If the style, characterizing François Linke, is mostly recognizable by its Rococo-Art Nouveau motifs, it occasionally appealed other historical ornaments, such from the French Renaissance. That reminds of the time, when the cabinet took the central place in the interior furnishings. This collector furniture piece, which facade has sumptuously decorated doors matching the base, presents a decorative aesthetic coming from the architectural vocabulary.

Biography

François Linke, born in 1855 in Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), worked as a cabinet-maker in Paris from about 1882 until his death in 1946. In 1900, at the apex of his career, he opened a new shop at the famous Parisian place Vendôme. He specialized in Louis XV and Louis XVI style furniture: all pieces were beautifully mounted with gilt-bronze ornaments, and he received numerous commissions. Later Linke decided to collaborate with the well-known sculptor Léon Messagé and integrated new lines and shapes announcing the “Art Nouveau” style. His great success is definitely the 1900 Universal Exhibition where he was awarded the gold medal for his extraordinary kingwood desk, designed by Messagé. At this occasion, the “Revue artistique et industrielle” commented that “Linke’s stand is the biggest show in the history of art furniture”.

The post F. Linke<br /> Pair of Renaissance Revival Cabinets appeared first on Tobogan Antiques.

Cabinet-maker and Bronze-caster
(1855-1946)
(attributed to)

Thermometer and perpetual calendar

France
Circa 1880

Height : 90 cm (35,4 in.) ; Width : 25 cm (9,8 in.)

A pair of Louis XVI style alcohol thermometer and matching barometer is to be linked to those made by François Linke, and registered under n°1830 in his personal archives.

Elegant set of Louis XVI style comprising a thermometer and a perpetual calendar. Each consisting of a metal plaque, painted with floral motifs on a beige background : for the calendar, four openings dislaying the year, the month, the day and its corresponding number in black on a parchment background, and for the alcohol thermometer, graduations indicating some states in Nature as « Ice » at 0° Celsius, or temperature suitable for « Silkworms » at 23° C. Molded carved and gilded wood frameworks enriched with volutes, acanthuses and oak leaves.

Biography

François Linke, born in 1855 in Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), worked as a cabinet-maker in Paris from about 1882 until his death in 1946. In 1900, at the apex of his career, he opened a new shop at the famous Parisian place Vendôme. He specialized in Louis XV and Louis XVI style furniture: all pieces were beautifully mounted with gilt-bronze ornaments, and he received numerous commissions. Later Linke decided to collaborate with the well-known sculptor Léon Messagé and integrated new lines and shapes announcing the “Art Nouveau” style. His great success is definitely the 1900 Universal Exhibition where he was awarded the gold medal for his extraordinary kingwood desk, designed by Messagé. At this occasion, the “Revue artistique et industrielle” commented that “Linke’s stand is the biggest show in the history of art furniture”.

The post F. Linke<br />Thermometer Calendar appeared first on Tobogan Antiques.