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Lot Essay
See lot 378 for a biographical note on François Linke, Léon Messagé and their collaborative work.
As the inclusion of slightly larger versions on his stands at both the 1904 St. Louis and 1905 Liège exhibitions would suggest, the present table appears to have been a particularly popular model with Linke's wealthy clientèle. Further examples are known to have been supplied for the Meyer family mansion in Grosvenor Square, London (photographed in situ in 1909) and for the Salon of King Fuad I of Egypt, in the Abdine Palace, Cairo (see photograph above). The table incorporates Messagé's famous Modestie and Coquetterie mounts, also found on an art case piano by Linke sold (after sale) Christie's East, 31 October 2000, lot 442 ($190,000), and his seaweed-draped mermaid mask, found on the 1904 St. Louis vitrine sold in the same sale (lot 444; $303,000). Interestingly, the figural group centring the table's stretcher was also exhibited in encrier form at Liège.
Larger versions of this model centre table were sold Phillips, London, 29 February 2000, lot 175 (£111,500) and Sotheby's London, 27 May 1994, lot 162 (£67,500).
As the inclusion of slightly larger versions on his stands at both the 1904 St. Louis and 1905 Liège exhibitions would suggest, the present table appears to have been a particularly popular model with Linke's wealthy clientèle. Further examples are known to have been supplied for the Meyer family mansion in Grosvenor Square, London (photographed in situ in 1909) and for the Salon of King Fuad I of Egypt, in the Abdine Palace, Cairo (see photograph above). The table incorporates Messagé's famous Modestie and Coquetterie mounts, also found on an art case piano by Linke sold (after sale) Christie's East, 31 October 2000, lot 442 ($190,000), and his seaweed-draped mermaid mask, found on the 1904 St. Louis vitrine sold in the same sale (lot 444; $303,000). Interestingly, the figural group centring the table's stretcher was also exhibited in encrier form at Liège.
Larger versions of this model centre table were sold Phillips, London, 29 February 2000, lot 175 (£111,500) and Sotheby's London, 27 May 1994, lot 162 (£67,500).