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Francois Linke Table De Salon Paris, 1912-1927 noyer, the top veneered with a diamond shaped noyer parquetry height 31 in. width 49 in. depth 32 in. Provenance: Jean Bieder, Francois Linke’s foreman in the 1920’s, who took over Linke’s business in 1946 Literature: C. Payne, Francois Linke, p.253, pl 267,for an illustration of a variant of the present model. D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Francois du XIX Siecle, pp.435-444 C. Payne, 19th Century European Furniture, pp. 39-40 The present lot has no corresponding cliche in the Linke Archive: however , there are two of similiar Renaissance form, each with a marble top.Number 845 was made in 1927 for the King of Egypt, Fuad I. Another variation, number 2403, is one of the earliest examples of Linke making furniture in Renaissance revival manner, a ’grande table noyer sculpte’ made for Antonio Devoto in Bueno Aires in 1912. However, in both instances, these two tables were supplied with a marble top, unlike the present lot. This Renaissance style table in carved walnut is similar to an undated project in the Linke archive for the Maharaja of Baroda. In keeping with Linke’s practice in the latter stages of his long career, he branched out into styles of furniture not traditionally associated with his oeuvre. The carved decoration is influenced by designers such as Hughes Sambin, whose influential book Oeuvres de la diversite des termes, was published in 1572. It is interesting to see the present lot in context with a table exhibited by Emile Galle at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. Although better known for their interpretation of the Art Nouveau Style, both Galle and Marjorelle first exhibited in 1889 with more traditional designs. One of Galle’s masterpieces, made for the Musee de l’Ecole de Nancy, is a table ’Le Rhin’, similar in form to the present lot in an interpretation of the Renaissance style. Cf: A 16th century table, also in walnut, Collection Bonnaffe, Les Art du Bois, J. Rouam, editeur, Paris, c. 1890, p. 69, and another, Collection Spitzer, p. 60. A late 19th century table of similar inspiration was sold at Christie’s September 12, 2006, lot 257.
Condition: Very Good