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Lot Essay
Born in Bohemia, François Linke (d. 1946) moved to Paris in 1875 and established independent ateliers at 170, rue de Faubourg St. Antoine. As was the practice among his contemporaries, Linke initially produced furniture derived from styles popular during the 18th century ancienne régime. By 1900, his worldwide reputation as an individualistic master of high quality furniture was well established.
Winning the medaille d'or for his Grand Bureau at the Paris 1900 exhibition was to be the pinnacle of Linke's career. Critics such as Charles Dambreuse, were prompted 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, I'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.
Winning the medaille d'or for his Grand Bureau at the Paris 1900 exhibition was to be the pinnacle of Linke's career. Critics such as Charles Dambreuse, were prompted 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, I'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.