BY FRANÇOIS LINKE, INDEX NUMBER 709, THE MOUNTS DESIGNED BY LÉON MESSAGÉ, PARIS, CIRCA 1900

Linke clearly intended this inkwell, adapted from Messagé's group La Source, to form part of his stand at the 1900 Exposition Universelle. Payne notes, however, that its absence from any of the photographs of Linke's display, taken in the October at least five months after the exhibition opened, is explained by the fact that it is not mentioned in the daybook until the September and probably didn't make it on to the stand, if at all, until shortly before its close on 12 November. Like seven or eight other pieces originally intended for inclusion on the stand, it would seem the encrier exposition was a casualty of both Linke's over-ambitious production schedule and the financial burden that the manufacture of such ornate and high quality work imposed. Most of these pieces were shown at subsequent exhibitions, the encrier forming part of Linke's stand at the 1905 Liège Exposition universelle. It is thought that seven encriers were produced up until 1925 and sold at considerably varying prices. Another sold Christie’s, London, 6 June 2017, lot 205 (£18,750).