Francois Linke

The gilt-Bronze Louis XV style case features two Oriental figures, a man and a woman. Each sits upon an overstuffed tasseled pillow and has an outstretched arm reaching for a dove perched between them. The scrolling foliage is supported below by a rocaille base and above supports the clock. Surmounting the clock is a third smaller oriental figure seated holding a parasol and gazing at a flower. The base is stamped ‘LINKE’ along a polished edge.

The white porcelain dial has black Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numbers for the five-minute marks and pierced gilt-bronze hands.

The eight-day time and strike movement has ‘GML 572’ and the Vincenti trademark stamped on the backplate, strikes on a bell and has a balance wheel escapement.

For a nearly identical clock see: Bonhams, Sale Number 20857, Lot 241.

Francois Linke was perhaps the most celebrated furniture maker of his time. Like the pieces of his contemporaries such as Beurdeley, Sormani and Dasson, Linke’s work included adaptations of important 18th century furniture. He was awarded many Exhibition gold medals and his works are keenly sought by collectors worldwide.