A fine amaranth, rosewood and fruitwood marquetry and parquetry 'bureau de dame' by Sormani, Paris second half 19th century

in Louis XV style, of lightly bombé form, the galleried top above a cylindre enclosing a leather lined writing surface and various drawers, the apron revealing a pull-out accommodating a pair of lidded compartments and a central cover opened by a secret mechanism and showing a mirror and another compartment, the lock engraved SORMANI PARIS 134, Boul^d Haussmann, raised on slender legs, marquetted with Neoclassical trophies and attributes, the cylindre and apron with medallions enclosing village landscapes, applied with fine mounts of gilt bronze, the herm signed SORMANI PARIS

Italian by birth, Paul Sormani established his highly successful, and long-lived business in 1847 at 7, rue de la cimetière Saint Nicolas. From 1847-1854 the address was 114, rue du Temple, and finally 10, rue Charlot in 1867. The firm exhibited at all of the major international exhibitions of 1855, 1862 and 1867, with petits meubles de fantaisie, as well as fine quality versions in the Louis XV, XVI and Transitional styles. On Sormani's death, the business was continued by his wife and son, with pieces then bearing the signature Vve Sormani & Fils.

On Paul Sormani contemporaries of the cabinetmaker used to say: "Toute sa production révèle une qualité d'exécution de tout premier ordre" (the whole of his production exhibits craftmanship of the highest quality). See: D. Ledoux-Lebard, Les Ébénistes Du XIX ième. Siecle, Les éditions de l' amateur, Paris 1989, p. 583.