BY FRANÇOIS LINKE, THE MOUNTS DESIGNED BY LÉON MESSAGÉ, PARIS, CIRCA 1910

Details

A Louis XV style ormolu-mounted tulipwood and mahogany armoire
By François Linke, The mounts designed by Léon Messagé, Paris, Circa 1910
The arched top with pierced foliate cresting, above a bevelled mirrored door with shell crest and shaped apron centred by a dolphin and seaweed mount, the interior fitted with several drawers, flanked on each side by a shaped panelled door centred by fan veneering within an acanthus frame, the interior of each fitted with four shelves, with quarter-veneered panelled sides, the angles with acanthus clasps, on tapering legs and scrolled acanthus-cast sabots, inscribed F. Linke to the edge of one clasp
106in. (269.3cm.) high; 86¼in. (219cm.) wide; 22½in. (57cm.) deep

Provenance

Purchased George Georges & Sons, Los Angeles, July 31, 1978.

Lot Essay

Léon Messagé designed a whole series of mounts exclusively for the embellishment of Linke's cabinetwork, using varied combinations to suit each individual piece. The 'dolphin' seen at the base of this armoire's central door (see detail above) is one such frequently used mount. It appears both on a Steinway grand piano with case by Linke, sold (after sale) Christie's East, 31 October 2000, lot 442, and on a three-leaf folding screen sold in the same rooms 14 October 1999, lot 507.

See lots 192 and 193 for additional notes on François Linke and Léon Messagé respectively.

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