François Linke: Louis XVI style gilded bronze bed

François Linke

Magnificent bed frame in mahogany, satinwood and cube marquetry.
Beautiful ornamentation in finely chased gilt bronze.

Headboard with molded pediment, upside-down cavet, frieze of pearls and oves.
Medallion with attributes, flower falls, pearls, knotted ribbon and interlaced laurel leaves.
Dices with fleurons, pompons and lanceolate leaves.
Rounded reserve mounts, grapefruit falls.
Three molded panels, fluted bands.

The pediment is adorned with acanthus and rosette friezes.
Raised front, molded panels.
Fluted mounts with asparagus tips.
Flowered basket and knotted ribbon attributes, laurel falls, rosettes in spandrels.
Apron with acanthus brackets.

Crosspieces with fleurons, fluting and foliate guilloche.
Fluted spindle feet, gadrooned rings.

Circa 1880.

Head: height 147 cm, width 163 cm.
Leg: height 84 cm, width 163 cm.
Bedding: 150 cm x 200 cm.

A bookcase from the same estate is signed.

Delivery possible.


A similar bed was sold at Sotheby's in New-York on October 30, 2013.
Two similar sets were sold at Sotheby's in Melbourne on May 27, 2008 and in New-York on October 26, 2006.

François LINKE (1855-1946) was undoubtedly the most important Parisian cabinetmaker of his time.
Initially apprenticed in his native Pankraz in Bohemia, Linke arrived in Paris in 1875 and founded his own workshop in 1881 at 170 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, later opening a branch at 26 place Vendôme.
Linke's international reputation was already well established when the 1900 Exposition Universelle was held in Paris, and his talent and creativity remained unrivalled: the Exhibition crowned his success and reinforced the financial stability of his company, enabling him to conquer new markets abroad.
Like his contemporaries Beurdeley and Dasson, Linke's production included copies and pastiches inspired by successive 18th-century styles and the most famous royal furniture, as well as exuberant designs combining Louis XV and Art Nouveau styles.
Linke collaborated with the renowned sculptor Léon Messagé.
In 1904, he was appointed Officier de l'Instruction Publique, and took part in the St. Louis Exhibition in the USA.
In 1905, he was appointed juror at the Liège Exhibition and, on October 11, 1906, was awarded the Légion d'Honneur.