John Howkins Antiques

Description

A superb quality bonheur du jour from the renown workshops of Paul Sormani of Paris, France. Constructed from fine local and imported exotic timbers including kingwood, harewood, thuya, burr maple, boxwood and various stained woods with top quality ormolu mounts. The top section having a broken arch pediment with marquetry inlay and central ormolu urn. The arched panelled door having very good marquetry inlay with ormolu mounts and flanked by square reeded columns with ormolu Corinthian capitals. The sides having 2 shaped shelves with burr maple inlay and mounts. There are 2 small bow fronted drawers to the top, one opens to reveal the 2 original ink wells. The “D” shaped top of the base having a stunning panel of very fine intricate floral and scrolling marquetry with a flaming urn to the centre and very subtle pen work. Below the shaped front is a pull out writing slide which retains the original tooled blue velvet lining, the full width birds eye maple lined drawer with marquetry inlay and working lock. This stunning piece of 19th.century furniture is raised on 4 turned and tapering legs with thuya wood and boxwood inlay with ormolu mounts and an “H” shaped strengthening cross stretcher. Condition - excellent with original working locks & keys. Dimensions:- Height…158cm / 62’’ Width… 86.5cm / 34'' Depth: 48cm / 19''.
Paul Sormani (1817 to 1877), one the most important cabinetmakers of the 19th century, was born in Venice. Having trained as a cabinetmaker, he moved to Paris where he opened his first shop in 1847 specializing in furniture made in the Louis XV and Louis XVI style.
The Empress Eugenie, the wife of Emperor Napoleon III, who was particularly fond of furniture in the 18th century styles, engaged Paul Sormani to create spectacular pieces to compliment her period examples. Sormani was able to meet the Empress’s high standards with the excellent quality of the cabinet work, bronze mounts, use of lacquer and unusual woods.
Paul Sormani’s firm was a maker of fine “meubles de luxe”, (deluxe furniture) whose work was described in the 1867 Exposition Universelle catalogue as “toute sa production revele une qualite d’execution de tout premier ordre”. ( translates - all its production reveals a quality and execution of the first order ”. He received a medal of premiere class at the Exposition Universelle of 1855, followed by another medal at the 1862 exposition in London.


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Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information on this item on 07770 311611 or 01508 498335.