Object Description
A Fine Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bombé Vitrine With Vernis Martin Panels, by François Linke.
Signed ‘F. Linke’ to one bronze mount.
The reverse of the bronze mounts stamped ‘FL’.
Variation of Index No. 103 – Vitrine Louis XV corniche cintrée 6 panneaux vernis Martin bois de violette.
This fine vitrine has a shaped brèche violette marble top above an arched cornice and a frieze decorated with panels of Vernis Martin, between projecting angles with fine scrolling foliate mounts and reeded banding. The central bombé glazed door has a fine Vernis Martin panel to the lower section depicting scenes of les fêtes galantes in the manner of Watteau and framed by fine gilt-bronze encadrement. The vitrine opens to a mirrored interior fitted with two glass shelves. The sides of the vitrine have similar bombé shaped glass and Vernis Martin panels and the whole is raised on cabriole legs with scrolled acanthus cast sabots.
A notable feature of this fine vitrine is the unusual crab like scallop shell or coquille and acanthus mount, which features at the base of the Vernis Martin panel to the door. The distinctive shell, as designed by Linke’s sculptor Léon Messagé, is held by delicate tendrils of acanthus implying the shape of a crab. This impressive and individual bronze mount is perhaps even more of a guarantee than a signature.