08/09/2025
Apprenticed in Bohemia in 1872, Francois Linke moved to Paris in 1877 and rose to become the preeminent cabinet maker of the Belle Époque. At the turn of the century his furniture gained international renown. Winning accolades and acclaim at exhibitions in Paris, London and St Louis, Linke provided for captains of industry, connoisseurs and even royalty. Today Linke’s work can be seen in national collections, royal residences, and some of the finest private homes in Europe. Mallams is pleased to offer an exemplary bureau by Linke from this period in our forthcoming September House and Garden Sale.
Parisian Bureau à Cylindre, attributed to Francois Linke, to be auctioned in The House & Garden Sale
A brilliant collaborator, Linke worked with highly skilled craftsmen and artists to create distinctive and innovative furniture from his workshop at 170 Faubourg Saint-Antoine. A typical work from the turn of the century features an oak carcass made by Marseiller and Frinck. This was veneered in tulipwood and kings wood by Labbel. Ormolu elements designed by Message were gilded by Piccard and mounted by Pickard and Arnold; locks and hinges were added by Clement Linke. All together, thousands of hours of work went into each piece, all recorded in day books at the workshop. Linke’s greatest collaborator was Leon Message (1842-1901), the artist who designed and realised the bronze mounts. Message’s work became a defining feature in Linke’s work in the Louis XV style: his sumptuous ormolu mounts complemented the simple, elegant furniture Linke so beautifully designed.
Though without the iconic ‘F. Linke’ stamp, the bureau à cylindre in our September House and Garden Sale bears distinctive attributes of a work by Linke at the height of his powers. The handles by Message are as seen on the famous model no. 707, and the waisted cartouche on the cylinder can be seen on model no. 272. The lock plates stamped by his brother Clement Linke and the coquille mounted to the central drawer are perhaps an even stronger guarantee of authorship than his signature.
Pictured above and below: The Bureau à Cylindre attributed to François Linke, for sale in The House & Garden Sale in September
Pictured above: details of the bureau inlcuding the waisted cartouche to the cylinder; coquille mounted to the central drawer; lock plate stamped by Clement Linke
Each model produced by Linke was made in limited numbers and often tailored to a client’s specific requirements. This bureau appears to be a variation on model no.242. As with many of his bureaus, this one was made with ormolu mounted candle arms. These not being present suggests that the present example was intended for a home already wired for electric lights (also meaning a saving of around six hundred francs). However, the Galleried top is more luxurious than some, perhaps indicating that cost was of no object in the making of this piece.
The question of authorship cannot be settled with complete certainty, yet the evidence of design, materials, and execution points persuasively towards Francois Linke’s workshop. This bureau demonstrates the qualities of innovation and workmanship that place it among the finest creations of its time.
🗓️ Sale Dates: 29 - 30 September — The Bureau à Cylindre, attributed to François Linke, will be selling on Day One.
📍 Location: Abingdon Saleroom and Live Online
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