TIM SALTWELL

FINE ANTIQUE FURNITURE

A fine quality mahogany and gilt bronze mounted French Vitrine in the Louis XVI style attributed to Paul Sormani. The original marble top above a scroll mounted frieze, with bevelled glazed door below, enclosing glass shelves and glazed sides with cupboard under, standing on cabriole legs. The whole mounted in finely chased mercury gilded bronze mounts.

Height 63"

 Width 23"

 Depth 15"

Circa 1880

French

£ 6500

Ref-FUR 859

A pair of identical cabinets were sold at Sotheby's New York Stamped Paul Sormani

Sormani received enormous attention as one of Paris' finest and most influential ébénistes and earned worldwide acclaim by displaying his pieces at many of the world's leading exhibitions. At the 1867 Exhibition Universelle in Paris the celebrated designer received an award and was described in the Exhibition journal as "...a distinguished ébéniste of Paris, whose works deservedly attracted the attention of the public, and received the marked approval of the connoisseur."

Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, decorated her palaces with beautiful creations by Paul Sormani whose designs were of a select few favored by the Empress. Revivals of Louis XV and XVI pieces were in high demand among affluent Parisians, and Sormani created many of the finest and most important furnishings of the period.

References:
Les Ébénistes du XIX Siècle, 1795-1889, 1965, Denise Ledoux-Lebard