SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- A Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted marquetry piano by celebrated Parisian cabinet maker Francois Linke, circa 1907, will be on offer at Bonhams’ auction of The Connoisseur’s Eye: A Private Collection of European Furniture, Paintings and Decorative Arts on October 28 in San Francisco.

The piano, estimated at $150,000-250,000, features a case that is one of two examples ever made, as according to the Linke archives and "Francois Linke (1855-1946): The Belle Epoque of French Furniture" by Christopher Payne. The first example, inventory 1773, was this one, with an Erard movement, made in 1907 for Monsieur LaPorte of Paris. The second, with the archive number 1899, had a Bechstein movement and was made for Mr. Meyer of London in 1909 – and actually sold in an auction this year in March.

Bonhams looks forward to presenting the piano in this sale alongside more than 200 lots of fine art, sculpture, furnishings and decor that were housed in a magnificent South Bay French baroque style chateau built by the its’ collectors.

Fine furniture on offer in the auction will include a pair of Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted Vernis Martin decorated vitrine cabinets by leading 19th century cabinetmaker Henry Dasson (est. $40,000-60,000). Two separate lots of Louis XV style giltwood suites of seating furniture with Aubusson upholstery from the late 19th century also stand out (each est. $25,000-35,000).

There will be superb examples of fine art available from the collection, such as a John William Godward oil on canvas of "An Arcadian beauty," signed and dated 'J.W. Godward '09' (est. $80,000-12,000). There will be various works by Pierre Auguste Renoir, including a color lithograph of "Le Chapeau Epingle," 1898, and a red chalk on paper of "Seated Woman" (each est. $60,000-80,000). Also of note will be an Edgar Degas charcoal on paper of "Cheval se Cabrant (La Courbette)," 1881-1885 (est. $50,000-70,000) and a Rembrandt van Rijn etching of "Self-Portrait with Saskia," 1636 (est. $12,000-18,000). Two Marc Chagall works on offer will include a lithograph in colors of "Les Renoncules," 1973 (est. $20,000-30,000) and a pencil and gouache on paper of "Marc Chagall," 1975 (est. $10,000-15,000). These are just a few examples of the many works available.

Decorative art highlights to be offered will include a pair of Louis XV style gilt and patinated bronze figural torcheres on Louis XVI style bronze mounted marble pedestals by Graux-Marly, from the late 19th century (est. $65,000-85,000). There will also be an Italian sculpture of a boy sculptor (Michelangelo as a child) on pedestal, signed E. Zoechi, from the late 19th century (est. $35,000-55,000) and a pair of Baroque monochrome wood figures of seated male saints from the late 17th/early 18th century (est. $6,000-8,000). Among fantastic silver highlights will be a pair of German 800 standard silver monumental figural Rococo style nine-light candelabra by Körner and Proll that were retailed by Gebrüder Friedlander of Berlin, late 19th century (est. $20,000-30,000).

Jeffrey Smith, Vice President and Director of Bonhams' Furniture and Decorative Arts Department in San Francisco, said of the sale, "It is a unique collection focusing primarily on the 19th century and many of the greats from Renoir to Linke to Godward to Dasson, and will be held side by side with Bonhams’ Fine European Furniture and Decorative Arts auction on October 27, and the famous San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, October 23-26.”

The preview for this sale will take place October 24-26 in San Francisco.