WOODEN GAMBLING TABLE LOUIS XV-STYLE.
Paris. Ca. 1900 or early 20th c. Francois Linke (1855-1946) - attributed.

Kingwood; mahogany and maple inlaid; gilt bronze fittigns. Square games table on high; slightly curved legs. Foldout top with inlaid cube decor. Frieze drawer. 75x58x58cm; foldout top 80 x 80cm. The fittigns stamped to their back 'L'. Condition B.

Literature:
Ledoux-Lebard; Denise: Le Mobilier Fran鏰is Du XIX. Si鑓le; Paris 1984. Maker see p.439ff.

Fran鏾is Linke was born the son of a humble stonemason in 1855 in German Pankraz in B鰄men. At 13 years-old he began a carpentry apprenticeship. His 'Wanderjahre' (journeyman years) brought him from Prag to Vienna and further on to Budapest. After that Linke spent some time in several German cities and went to Paris for the first time in 1875. In 1877 he made the final decision to stay in Paris. As early as 1881 he opened his own maufacture in rue Faubourg-Saint-Antoine. At the Paris world exhibition in 1900 Linke received his first gold medal; at this point he was already one of the leading ebonists in France. His gilt bronze fittings enjoyed world fame as well and were identified by his contemporaries as "in der Tradition von Boulle und Cressent" ("in the tradition of Boulle and Cressent").Art trade; Van Ham.