Paul Sormani, 1817-1877 A companion pair of Transitional style gilt bronze mounted purpleheart, kingwood, and sycamore commodes late 19th/early 20th century, in the manner of Jean-François Leleu

each surmounted by a breche violette marble top, one stamped twice SORMANI/PARIS to carcass under the marble, both with engraved brass plaques inset to frieze drawer, one reading PAUL SORMANI/ 10. r. Charlot Paris, the other SORMANI/ 134 Bd. Haussman  Paris.

Paul Sormani (1817-1866) established his 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 participated at 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 (b.1848) took over his father's 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.