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Francois Linke Bras De Lumiere, Index Number 698 Intended For The 1900s Exposition Universelle De Paris Paris, Circa 1906 gilt-bronze, three branches, both signed F. Linke height 33 1/2 in. Provenance: Francois Linke’s daughter, Quai Henri IV, Paris Literature: C. Payne, Francois Linke, illustrated p.300, pl. 313. H. Ottomeyer and P. Proschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Vol. 1. p. 143, fig. 2.11.19, for a similar 18th century model, circa 1750. Linke title; bras de lumiere Louis XV modele Fontainbleau Linke started these wall lights, optimistically, in July 1900, but they were not finished in time for the Exposition Universelle of that year. The first pair was gilded as late as 1903. Were it not for the titlt ’Bras fontainbleau’ in the Blue Daybook, the pencil drawing would be unidentifiable. It is clear that Alexandre Sartori, one of Linke’s main sculptors, made the models for these wall-lights. One pair was made with bobeches and another pair had sixteen pieces, the differences not immediately apparent. However, despite being seemingly a simple model, it took 89 hours to assemble the first pair and another 21 hours to prepare them for electricity. The noted in the blue daybook and green registre show that two further examples were made in 1903, the last in 1909 for Elias Meyer’s London address. It might be assumed that the present lot are the pair delivered to Meyer as the bulk of the Meyer order of 1909 was repurchased by Linke from Meyer’s widow in 1926. As with many of the Meyer pieces, Linke kept a number of them for his own personal use in his apartment on the Quai Henri IV in Paris, from whence they come by descent.
Dimensions: height 33 1/2 in.
Condition: Very Good