Circa 1900, with scrolled foliate, floral and acanthus mounts, the moulded marble top above an arched glazed panel mounted door, enclosing a mirrored interior with three adjustable glass shelves, the door mounted to the base with a central foliate spray-adorned shell and waterfall, on keeled cabriole legs terminating in sabots, two mounts, and probably others likewise, stamped: 'F.L.', 91cm wide x 42cm deep x 168cm high, (35 1/2in wide x 16 1/2in deep x 66in high)

Footnotes

A Francois Linke vitrine of the same, or at least virtually identical, design to the offered lot sold Christie's, London, 19 March 2008, 19th Century Furniture, lot 127. This example follows index number 1185. Another similar vitrine by Linke sold Christie's, New York, 26 November 2013, The Opulent Eye, lot 82 whilst a related model, albeit one following index number 208, sold Bonhams, London, 10 July 2007, Fine Continental Furniture, lot 92. A further Linke comparable sold Christie's, New York, 13 April 2017, Opulence, lot 119.

Similar 'crab-like' waterfall, shell and foliate mounts to the one appearing prominently on the present vitrine are typically associated with the oeuvre of Francois Linke, and can often be directly linked to the designs of Léon Messagé. However, dynamic variants of this mount can also be found on some of the furniture produced by Joseph-Emanuel Zwiener or the Zwiener firm, especially during the period 1890-c.1900.

François Linke was born in Bohemia but moved to Paris where he established his business circa 1880 at 170, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, and from 1900 onwards he opened a showroom at 26, Place Vendôme. Linke made a huge impact at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle at which he presented vigorous reinterpretations of the Rococo style. He was ultimately honoured with a gold medal and his success acquired wealthy patrons from across the world. He was admired so much in France that he was even awarded the 'Croix de la Légion d'Honneur' in 1906.

Literature
C. Payne, Francois Linke 1855-1946, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, 2003, Woodbridge.

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