Paul-Charles Sormani b. 1848 A Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted ebony and Japanese lacquer decorated cabinet Paris, late 19th century, after the model by Martin Carlin

surmounted by a brèche violette marble top and fitted with a frieze drawer, the cupboard door opening to one shelf, the lock engraved PAUL SORMANI / PARIS / 10, Rue Charlot

Overall in good condition and presentation with the usual minor scratches, dents and nicks to veneers and carcass consistent with age and use. Tarnishing to gilt-bronze in places. the vertical floral garland to the proper left hand side of the cabinet door is a later replacement. each lower corner of the frieze drawer with traces of inward damage. the marble showing professional restoration with a grey filler
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The design of the present side cabinet is directly drawn from the Secrétaire-commode made by Martin Carlin and bought from the marchand-mercier Darnault by Mesdames, the aunts of Louis XVI, for the Château de Bellevue. This cabinet is now in the permanent collection of the musée du Louvre. A cabinet of exact same Japanese laquered decoration was sold at Sotheby's London, April 3, 1992, lot 83. It bears a paper label, beneath the marble top, inscribed Robert Mathias, whose wife Edma can be seen with her sister Betty, in a painting by John Singer Sargeant, now in the Tate Gallery, London. Their father, Asher Wertheimer, was a London Antique dealer-manufacturer, established in 1846 by special appointment to Queen Victoria.
Paul Sormani established the firm in 1847 at 7, Cimetière Saint-Nicholas in Paris. The location was then changed in 1854 to 114, Rue du Temple, and in 1867 to 10, rue Charlot. He was present at all the major exhibitions with petits meubles de fantaisie, as well as excellent quality reproductions of some of the Garde Meuble National items. The firm won a bronze medal in 1849 and une médaille de première classe in 1855. At the 1867 Exposition Universelle, his work was described as such: ‘toute sa production révèle une qualité d'exécution de tout premier ordre’ (‘the whole of his production exhibits craftsmanship of the highest quality’). When Sormani passed away, his son, Paul-Charles took over his father business alongside his mother, Ursule-Marie Philippine, hence the company’s name change to Sormani Veuve Paul et Fils. In 1914 Paul Charles Sormani formed a partnership with Thiebault Frères, and the firm was moved to 134, Boulevard Haussmann, where it remained until its closure in 1934. The furniture production was of the highest quality in the style of Louis XV and Louis XVI.