BY FRANCOIS LINKE, INDEX NUMBER 905, THE MOUNTS DESIGNED BY LEON MESSAGE, PARIS, CIRCA 1900

François Linke (d. 1946), one of the most celebrated ébénistes of his time, reached the pinnacle of his career with a large display in the Paris 1900 exhibition, where this model of vitrine, index number 905, was first exhibited. It was known as a 'Vitrine Louis XV bronze sur glace', and was a larger and more elaborate version of an earlier example, index number 487, which was first produced in 1897. The model is discussed at length by Christopher Payne in François Linke: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, Woodbridge, 2003, p. 151, pl. 158, p. 153, pl. 161, p. 243, pl. 258. The original exhibition cabinet was sold to Marshall Field of Chicago in September 1900 for 3,000 francs. Payne notes that at least five other examples of this 189 cm. high model were commissioned, while further examples had variations, including a taller version made for Prince Gagarine.

A vitrine of this model sold Christie's, London, 29 March 2007, lot 100 (£96,000), while a pair of index number 487, the smaller, simplified earlier version sold Christie's, New York, 26 October 2004, lot 321 ($237,100).