An important French marble-top commode, made by the Francois Linke workshop, case stamped H. Bieder, dated 1926. The finely parquetry inlaid case is embellished with extensive gilt ormolu mounts, signed O. Bieder.39.5”H x 54”W x 22.5”D. Auctioneer’s Note: The present work, made in the Linke workshop in 1926 by foreman Hans Bieder, provides an interesting look into the connection between Francois Linke and the Bieder family. Oskar Bieder (1861–1959) worked for Francois Linke’s furniture shop in Paris from 1888-1892. He then moved back to Switzerland and started his own workshop in Liestal. His son Hans (often called Jean in French) (1903-1980) worked for his father’s shop until the age of 20, then moved to Paris and followed in his father’s footsteps by working at Linke’s workshop beginning in 1922. He rose in the ranks and became a foreman, and then a designer. In 1928 he got married, and moved back to Liestal to work at his father’s shop. Linke, in ailing health and with no heirs, invited Hans back to Paris and offered him the business. Upon Linke’s death in 1946, Hans took over and continued to manage both businesses from Liestal. The case of this work is signed H. Bieder, 1926, indicating the maker is Hans (at only 23 years of age), made two years before his departure. The bronze mounts on this work are signed O. Bieder, Liestal, indicating that Hans’ father Oskar made them in his Switzerland shop. It’s curious that Bieder mounts are used, and not Linke’s own signed mounts. Linke’s attention to the bronze mounts on his pieces set him apart from his contemporaries, and led to the mounts sometimes making up two thirds of the cost of a piece of furniture. However, he often purchased sets from other makers, and it’s possible that these were purchased from Oskar, perhaps at the behest of Hans.(Source: Francois Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Epoque of French Furniture, by Christopher Payne, 2003)

Good.