Paul Sormani (1817-1877) Stamped Marquetry Desk

A superbly crafted piece of furniture from the renowned Paul Sormani workshops in Paris, France.

Crafted from local and imported exotic woods, it features intricate geometric marquetry and high-quality gilt bronze frames. The interior, both drawers and doors, is fully lined with bird's-eye maple.
This piece of furniture consists of two parts: the writing desk itself, with a large drawer front and an opening top covered in turquoise velvet; the upper part has two doors and two small drawers.
This writing desk has not undergone restoration and is sold unrestored. It shows slight wear and requires polishing.

Paul Sormani (1817-1877), one of the most important cabinetmakers of the 19th century, was born in Venice. After studying cabinetmaking, he moved to Paris, where he opened his first shop in 1847, specializing in Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture.

Empress Eugenie, wife of Emperor Napoleon III, a devoted admirer of 18th-century furniture, commissioned spectacular pieces from Paul Sormani to complement her own period furniture. Sormani met the Empress's high standards with the excellent quality of his cabinetwork and bronzes, as well as the use of rare lacquers and woodwork.

Paul Sormani's company produced magnificent "luxury furniture," whose work was described in the catalog of the 1867 World's Fair as "his entire production reveals a quality of execution of the highest order." He received a first-class medal at the 1855 World's Fair, followed by another at the London Exhibition of 1862.

Dimensions
H 133 cm
W 78.5 cm
D 49.5 cm