Welcome
The aim of this updated website is to have a user-friendly site available to disseminate news and information not only about François Linke and his work and but also as a conduit for consultation with Christopher Payne on any aspect of furniture research or authentication, regardless of date or region, metropolitan or vernacular. The site will be updated from time to time and relevant information added gathered from auction houses, collectors, dealers, or academics.
Here are some of the topics you can explore on this site:
Christopher Payne
My biography, my role in TV and media, organise a consultation, and frequently asked questions.
François Linke
Linke was the ‘Chippendale of the Parisien Belle Epoque’. Find out about his productive life and world wide achievements. The book is long out of print but is a useful guide to use the original images to compare with modern cheap reproductions, many now made in Egypt.
Paris Furniture
French furniture of the nineteenth century is invariably of superb quality, often riving that of eighteenth century precedents. Here the inventiveness of the century stands out and is complemented by the first ever publication explaining the illustrious copies of royal and aristocratic furniture.
New British Furniture book
Work started on British Furniture 1820-1920 when I was generously offered a residency at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles in 2018. As with Paris Furniture, I delved into the world of reproduction furniture and copies, a subject most writers ignore.
Other Books
All my publications, how to buy them, synopsis, reviews, even future projects.
China
My activities in China
Please browse through the pages of this site and let me know what you think using the message form below.