Lot 238: A French late 19th century ormolu-mounted, amaranth, mahogany, sycamore, marquetry and parquetry bureau à cylindre, after the 1784 model by Jean-Henri Riesener (1734 - 1806) - by François Linke, index number 100, Paris

by François Linke, index number 100, Paris decorated in the round and inlaid overall with lozenge-parquetry, the top with pierced three-quarter gallery, the roll-top inlaid with an oval trophy allegorical of Poetry, within a ribbon-tied foliate surround, opening to reveal four pigeon-holes and four short drawers, above a slide-out gilt-tooled black leather writing surface, above a central concealed frieze drawer mounted with an ormolu plaque of cloudborne-putti, flanked to each side by a drawer with flower-filled basket and scrolling foliate handles, the sides with ormolu plaques emblematic of Painting and Sculpture, on square tapering legs and acanthus-cast feet, the reverse of each lockplate stamped CT LINKE/SERRURERIE/PARIS , 120cm wide, 62cm deep, 111.5cm high (47in wide, 24in deep, 43.5in high).