19th Century Large French Casket by Paul Sormani of Paris c. 1870

This casket is a fine brass-mounted amboyna jewellery box by Paul Sormani and is signed: "P.SORMANI 10 rue Charlot, Paris ". It has metal foliate work around the top and bottom of the box. The box has amboyna panels with kingwood, tulipwood and boxwood on the lid and sides. The interior is lined in dark red moiré silk and crushed velvet. The box is in excellent condition with no veneer missing. It has a functioning lock and key. The box is elevated on metal feet that resolve into acanthus leaves. 

About the Maker: Paul Sormani (1817-1877) was one the most renown French cabinetmakers of the 19th century. Born in Venice, Sormani trained as a cabinetmaker. In the mid 1800's, he moved to Paris and opened his first shop in 1847. He specialized in making fine “meubles de luxe”, (deluxe furniture)  in the style of Louis XV and Louis XVI. Paul Sormani rose to prominence through the patronage of Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon III. His work was described in the 1867 Exposition Universelle catalogue as “toute sa production revele une qualite d’execution de tout premier ordre”. He received a medal of premiere classe at the Exposition Universelle of 1855, followed by another medal at the 1862 exposition in London 

Paul SORMANI, initially specialized in the manufacture of travel kits and small sized furniture, set up his workshop in 1854, at rue du Temple in Paris. The Maison Sormani would soon become a very successful company, highly popular with Parisian high society, as well as with the Imperial Family. Having decorated her palaces in the "Ancien Régime" styles, Empress Eugénie acquired many of the superb SORMANI creations. The company exhibited its works in all the major International as well as National Exhibitions, such as that of Industrial Products in 1849 or the major Parisian Universal Exhibitions of 1855 and 1867, in which it was honoured by the judges, having been awarded the highest prizes. In 1867 Sormani moved its premises to rue Charlot, a detail that allows dating this chest to between 1854 and 1867.

SIZE:

Width: 40 cm
Depth: 29 cm
Height: 18 cm