H 109cm (42.91 in); W 43cm (16.93 in),This wall-mounted cartel is a rare and unusual example of the Linke oeuvre and appears to be the only example recorded. As a furniture maker Linke's extensive records are unsurpassed, arguably unique in the world. Unfortunately his record keeping for clocks and sculpture are scant by comparison. This is certainly because such a large and complex casting would have been cast by one of the better Paris foundries - Linke is recorded as using Colin, for example. We know that many of the smaller bronze castings were indeed worked on, fettled, chased and fitted in house by Linke's bronziers, but a cartel such as the Cornwall example would have been too large to cast in house, but the fettling, or at least the chasing and finishing work have been completed in the worshop.
Linke lists twenty-two clocks in his inventory and none are identifiable by foundry and the entries are simple descriptions rarely identifiable. It is interesting to note the MB casting mark on the reverse of the present lot, which almost certainly explains this dilemma. Records show that Linke bought models from the celebrated Denière foundry in 1903 and in 1905 he bought from Blaise Millet the case for the copy of the celebrated Caffieri orrery clock presented to Louis XV in October 1753. Although there is not clear evidence in the Linke Archive it would appear that Linke also bought the master model from the vente Millet in 1905 which would explain the 'MB' casting initials. This is a rare example, as in most instances the only clear identification we have is the Linke signature on the enamel dial, a facsimile of his well-known hand-written signature. In the accompanying reproduction, the Millet example of the present lot can clearly be seen on the wall of the Maison Millet stand at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair.
Footnote courtesy of Christopher Payne.
The present lot is an adaptation of the Louis XV rococo style, modified to suit the trend for the art nouveau of the 1890 to 1910 period at the height of Millet's and Linke's activity. This innovative adaptation anticipates the collaboration between Fran?ois Linke and his sculptor Léon Messagé when the latter modernised the rococo style for Linke's stand at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900. The asymmetry of the present lot loosely follows the wide ranging principles of the rococo era but the accentuation of the case and the cartouche containing the thermometer are more typical of the art nouveau of 1900. Messagé died in 1901 and Linke adapted many of the sculptor's models for new designs of furniture and the present lot would hve been a perfect compliment to Linke's oeuvre. Similarities can be found in a series of engravings of Messagé designs in his Cahier des dessins et croquis style Louis XV of 1890.
Perhaps the finest ébéniste and bronzier of the late 19th century, Fran?ois Linke produced, in collaboration with the sculptor Léon Messagé , furniture of the highest quality at his workshop at 170, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, and later c.1902 had a showroom at 26, Place Vend?me. As well as furniture made in an original gilt-bronze-mounted rocaille style, Linke also produced copies of furniture in the styles of the ancien régime of the late 17th and 18th centuries. Although he established his workshop in 1881, Linke first came to public notice at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, at which he was awarded a Gold Medal. He became the most sought after cabinet-maker of the early 20th century producing meuble de style and exhibited at many international exhibitions, including St. Louis (1904), Liège (1905) and London (1908). Linke died in 1946 by which time the style with which he had made his name was no longer the height of fashion, but the workshops continued on a much reduced scale for some time.
It is interesting to note that Maison Millet's stand boosted a similar cartel at the 1904 St Louis Great Exhibition.
19TH CENTURY FURNITURE AND SCULPTURE, 2002 Oct 1, lot 210,Price realised
GBP 21,510
Exhibited: Saint-Louis World’s Fair, 1904
Of exuberant asymmetrical floral form, the lavishly chased and fire-gilt case encloses a centigrade thermometer within its scrolling acanthus and rock-work surround; the enamel dial signed F. Linke à Paris, flanked by cascading water motifs and leafy volutes. Backplate stamped repeatedly with the founder’s mark MB.
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