Paul-Charles Sormani b. 1848 A gilt-bronze mounted ebony, steel and Japanese Lacquer dressing table Paris, circa 1870

three frieze drawers, the central one revealing a spring latch opening the beveled mirror centering the top, the lock plate signed P. SORMANI/PARIS. Extensive losses to Japanese lacquer to the top.

Sold at Sotheby's New York, April 27, 2006, lot 156 for $96,000

Comparative literature: Daniel Alcouffe, Furniture Collections in the Louvre, Vol. I, Dijon, 1993, p. 289, no 97.

 

As stated in the catalogue, the Japanese style gold and black laquer on the top has mostly disappeared. The ebonized section of the stretcher shows extensive losses to the black paint color, and overall the piece has tarnishing to gilt bronze and steel plates. For good presentation, this lot will need to be professionally restored by a lacquer craftsman.
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.

This table is directly copied from an original model by Adam Weisweiler (1744-1820), supplied by him to the marchand-mercier Daguerre in 1784 for Marie-Antoinette's cabinet intérieur at the Château de Saint-Cloud. This table was copied by various 19^th century makers, faithfully reproducing the finesse of the gilt-bronzes. Empress Eugénie in 1865 acquired the original table from the Prince de Beauvau (d. 1864) and placed it in the salon bleu in the Tuileries where she gave audiences. The table is now in the Musée du Louvre and illustrated by D. Alcouffe, op. cit., p. 289, no. 97. The mounts on the original table were chased and gilded by the doreur François Rémond.

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 follows: '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'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.