Lot Essay
François Linke (d. 1946) was one of the most celebrated ébénistes of his time. Born in Pankraz, Bohemia, Linke moved to Paris in 1875 and six years later established independent ateliers at 170, rue du Faubourg St. Antoine. As was the practice among his contemporaries and noteworthy predecessors, such as Alfred Beurdeley and Henry Dasson, Linke initially produced furniture derived from styles popular during the 18th century ancien régime. By 1900, his worldwide reputation as an individualistic master of high quality furniture was already established. However, with a huge display, placing his extravagant pieces in room settings and winning the Médaille d'Or for his Grand Bureau, Linke's participation in 1900 prompted critics, such as Charles Dambreuse, to comment: "L'Exposition de la maison Linke est le gros événement de l'histoire du meuble d'art en l'an de grâce 1900" (see C. Dambreuse, L'Art Industriel à l'Exposition de Meuble de Style - M. F. Linke, in Revue Artistique & Industrielle, Paris, July-August, 1900). Linke's international acclaim following the 1900 exhibition afforded him a high degree of financial stability, not only allowing him to establish a large showroom on the fashionable place Vendôme, but also to pursue new and further distant markets by exhibiting at other international shows. These included the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, where he was again awarded a gold medal, Liège in 1905 and the Franco-British exhibition in London in 1908.
This giltwood suite was part of the large order in 1909, Commande 1237 and 1232, for the diamond merchant Elias Meyer and was commissioned for the drawing room of his house at 16 Grosvenor Square in London. The Meyer commission was extensive and one of the most complete interior schemes furnished by Linke and a number of images of the interior of 16 Grosvenor Square show the lavish scale of the commission.
Most of the pieces from this collection, possibly including this suite, were repurchased by Linke himself on Meyer’s death in 1926. Three chairs almost certainly from this suite were sold at Bonham's London, 9 December 2010, lot 199.
A similar suite formed part of the private collection of François Linke at his apartment on the quai Henri IV, Paris and a further related suite was made for the King of Egypt between November 1932 and January 1933, possibly including a second canapé. Much of the Linke furniture supplied to the King of Egypt has been dispersed since, although a similar pair of armchairs can still be seen today in the Salon Vert at the Abdeen Palace, Cairo.
This giltwood suite was part of the large order in 1909, Commande 1237 and 1232, for the diamond merchant Elias Meyer and was commissioned for the drawing room of his house at 16 Grosvenor Square in London. The Meyer commission was extensive and one of the most complete interior schemes furnished by Linke and a number of images of the interior of 16 Grosvenor Square show the lavish scale of the commission.
Most of the pieces from this collection, possibly including this suite, were repurchased by Linke himself on Meyer’s death in 1926. Three chairs almost certainly from this suite were sold at Bonham's London, 9 December 2010, lot 199.
A similar suite formed part of the private collection of François Linke at his apartment on the quai Henri IV, Paris and a further related suite was made for the King of Egypt between November 1932 and January 1933, possibly including a second canapé. Much of the Linke furniture supplied to the King of Egypt has been dispersed since, although a similar pair of armchairs can still be seen today in the Salon Vert at the Abdeen Palace, Cairo.