Furniture by Francois Linke, 1855-1946

Francois Linke was a renowned French cabinetmaker, born in the town of Pankraz, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) in 1855. He trained as a cabinetmaker in Bohemia before moving to Paris in 1875 at the age of 20.

After arriving in Paris, Linke began working for several prestigious cabinet makers, including Charles-Guillaume Winckelsen, a maker of Louis XV and Louis XVI-style furniture. Linke quickly gained a reputation as a skilled craftsman and innovative designer, and in 1881, he established his own workshop in the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, one of the main streets for furniture making in Paris.

Linke's workshop quickly gained recognition for the quality of its workmanship and its innovative designs, which combined traditional French styles with contemporary artistic influences, such as the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. Linke's furniture was characterized by its intricate marquetry, gilt bronze mounts, and more... luxurious materials, such as exotic woods, ivory, and mother-of-pearl.

Linke exhibited his work at several international exhibitions, including the Paris Exhibition of 1900, where he won a gold medal for his work. Linke's furniture was also popular with wealthy clients, including European royalty and prominent industrialists, such as the Rothschild family.

Linke continued to operate his workshop until his death in 1946, at the age of 91. His work is displayed in leading museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. less...