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Lot Essay
The present commode is based on Jean-Henri Riesener's celebrated commode supplied in 1776 to Louis XVI for his cabinet intérieur at Fontainebleau.
At a cost of 209 francs, François Linke purchased a set of patterns for the commode at the sale of the restorer and furniture-maker, Cueunières in November 1902. The model would prove a commercial success for Linke who reinterpreted Riesener's design in versions of different sizes and complexity under Index Numbers 10, 104, 886 and 1036. Index Number 10 was a true replica of Riesener's commode at 170 cm. wide, whereas this commode, Index Number 886, was slightly smaller at 150 cm. wide and differed from the original with Linke's addition of female masks heading the cabriole legs. (see C. Payne, François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003, p. 205-206).
Another smaller variant, Index Number 1437, sold Christie's , New York, 7 June 2011, lot 365 ($122,500).
At a cost of 209 francs, François Linke purchased a set of patterns for the commode at the sale of the restorer and furniture-maker, Cueunières in November 1902. The model would prove a commercial success for Linke who reinterpreted Riesener's design in versions of different sizes and complexity under Index Numbers 10, 104, 886 and 1036. Index Number 10 was a true replica of Riesener's commode at 170 cm. wide, whereas this commode, Index Number 886, was slightly smaller at 150 cm. wide and differed from the original with Linke's addition of female masks heading the cabriole legs. (see C. Payne, François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003, p. 205-206).
Another smaller variant, Index Number 1437, sold Christie's , New York, 7 June 2011, lot 365 ($122,500).