François Linke 1855 - 1946 "ENCRIER EXPOSITION", A FINE GILT BRONZE INKWELL PARIS, EARLY 20TH CENTURY, INDEX NUMBER 709

signed F. Linke

Payne, Christopher 'François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture', p. 90, pl. 97; p. 149, pl. 157; p. 150; pp. 182-183, pls 197 & 198 as exhibited at the Liege exhibition in 1905 & p. 480 for the original notes in Linke's Blue daybook of the late 1890s.

Staff of one putto lacking finial. Other putto's staff lacking lower end finial. Hinges loose. Gilt bronze with some scratches and light rubbing; consistent with age and handling. Some oxidation and surface dirt to crevice.
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.

Linke title: Encrier exposition  

This model is an iconic record of the collaboration between François Linke and his gifted but erratic sculptor Léon Messagé. It also symbolizes the amount of time, effort and finances that Linke put into mounting his stand at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Of the twenty-five highly original and modern pieces Linke originally intended to show at the exhibition, he only managed to finish thirteen, though they were thirteen of the most elaborate and complex models ever seen from a Paris or arguably world class furniture workshop. He augmented the stand with two copies of eighteenth century furniture but the present lot, an original concept by Messagé based on Louis XV rococo principles representing "La Source", was not finished on time for the opening of the Gold Medal winning stand on 5 May 1900. It was eventually shown on the stand in September after the gilding was finished by Picard at a cost of 90 French francs. The costs of the model were very high: some 2024 francs (of which Message's combined fee was 1158 francs 40 centimes), underlining the originality and complexity of the present lot. Seven examples are recorded, one selling to Solly Joel in 1901 and another to Antonio Devoto of Buenos Aires in 1912. Linke recommended that the retail price should be 2,200 French francs.

A similar model sold Christie's London, March 29, 2007, lot 75 for £33,600.

Footnote courtesy of Christopher Payne