When Linke copied Beneman's commode

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

At the end of the reign of Louis XVI, an opulent model of commode is created for the palace of Compiègne. It is a commode à encoignures, which means that both sides are formed of arc-shaped shelves. Napoleon I loved this model, and kept a copy in his apartments in the palace.

This model remained prestigious during a century and is the subject of many exact copies as "commode de Beneman". More recent investigations showed that the role of Guillaume Benneman (that is the spelling we use today) was to alter a model of Joseph Stockel and affix his stamp.

In recent years, the knowledge about French cabinetmakers of the late nineteenth century improved. François Linke was one of the best and his luxury furniture inspired by the eighteenth century are among the most wanted.

His record shows that he produced very few commodes from Beneman's model, between 1899 and 1903. The copy for sale at Sotheby's in New York on April 20 is titled "commode à oiseau" because of the subject of its very nice decoration of gilt bronze. This large piece of furniture (94 x 237 x 75 cm) is estimated 150 K $.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Sotheby's has exceeded the reasonable estimate of this commode, with a result at 220 K $ including expenses. But one wonders if it would not have done better if it had been sold in Paris.