attributed to Roux et Brunet A Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted mahogany and vernis martin marble top vitrine cabinet Paris, circa 1885

brèche d'alep marble, fitted with three glass adjustable shelves.

Very good quality, the gilt-bronze very finely cast and chased; the marble top with an old infilled repaired break to center and with losses around the crack; marble with chips and wear to edges; losses to the molded edge of the top of the case to the back left corner approximately 2 1/2 inches in length; front frieze with small 1/4 inch square veneer loss; right door slightly skew and with small patches to veneer to top left corner; lacking keyhole escutcheon to right door; chips and losses to veneer to back of back right leg; extensive heat/sun damage to the vernis martin panels with craquelure and bubbling and disfiguring to the painted images; the gilt-bronze clean and in very good condition and retaining original gilding; some areas of tarnishing and oxidation in places mainly to crevices; wear to top of gilt-bronze mount to apron from the mounts touching the door mounts; fitted for electricity; overall with some old mark and scratches and light surface abrasions. One escutcheon to the right door is lacking as visible in the catalogue illustration.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The style of this cabinet is closely related to those produced in the Paris furniture making trade in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine in the 1880s.  However, without a signature or identifying mark it is unattributable. There are similarities betweem this firm and the firm of Roux et Brunet, some of whose mounts were designed by Léon Messagé and later used by François Linke. Indeed many of the mounts on the present lot, whilst not exclusive to him, are very similar to the work he produced in his early years in Paris in the 1880s. At this time Linke was making furniture to order for larger makers such as Krieger or retail outlets such as Bon Marché and as such he did not sign or mark his furniture in any way. It is possible that the present vitrine is an early piece by Linke but a firm attribution cannot be made without more documentation. A similar vitrine signed F. Linke was offered in these rooms April 20, 2009, lot 346.