Grohe Freres low cabinet circa 1870 hammers for $143,000 at Sotheby's

A Grohe Freres-designed low cabinet circa 1870 has realised $143,000 at a sale of 19th Century Decorative Art at Sotheby's in New York.

The cabinet was the highlight of the October 30 sale, and features gilt bronze mouldings and amaranth, satinwood and fruitwood marquetry and parquetry.

A Sarancollin Opera marble top crowns the piece.

Grohe Freres cabinet Sotheby's
The cabinet features ornate marquetry depicting a bouquet of flowers

William and Jean Michael Grohe worked as cabinetmakers in Paris between 1827-1884, and became renowned for the high quality of their furniture - ultimately becoming suppliers to royal houses across Europe, including the courts of Queen Victoria and Napoleon III.

Examples of their work can be found in the Louvre and Fontainbleau in France and Windsor Castle in Britain.

A Francois Linke-designed Louis XV bureau plat (writing table) dating to the early 20th century made $68,750 at the sale. Made from gilt bronze with satine cube parquetry and mounted kingwood, it is surmounted by a burgundy leather writing surface.

Linke (1855-1946) was the most respected cabinet maker of his time, and was widely commissioned to furnish the homes of the mega rich - including Simon Patino, the Bolivian tin magnate, and US mine owner Raphael de Lamar.

Last year, a Linke ormolu-mounted kingwood console table made $110,000 at AB Levy's in Florida.

We have this antique Holland & Sons swivel top card table, made circa 1860 and decorated with Hungarian ash.

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