Pair Paul Sormani Antique Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Commodes

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This magnificent pair of French gilt-bronze-mounted marquetry commodes by Paul Sormani exemplifies the exceptional quality of luxury cabinetmaking for which … Read more This magnificent pair of French gilt-bronze-mounted marquetry commodes by Paul Sormani exemplifies the exceptional quality of luxury cabinetmaking for which the celebrated Parisian ébéniste and his workshop became internationally renowned during the nineteenth century. Richly veneered in contrasting figured woods, lavishly mounted with finely modeled gilt bronze, and surmounted by dramatically veined marble tops, the commodes combine the disciplined symmetry of the Louis XVI and Transitional styles with the opulence expected of the finest Parisian meubles de luxe.

Each commode is surmounted by a substantial molded marble top, beautifully figured in tones of burgundy, wine red, gray, cream, and white. The gently projecting marble follows the rectangular form of the cabinet and provides a luxurious visual counterpoint to the warm tones of the marquetry below.

Immediately beneath the marble is a narrow frieze enriched with an elaborate continuous gilt-bronze foliate and scrolling mount. Interlacing leaves, scrolls, and classical ornament extend almost the entire width of the façade, with corresponding mounts continuing around the projecting corners. A gilt-bronze molding separates this richly ornamented upper register from the larger drawers beneath.

The fronts are particularly accomplished examples of geometric marquetry and parquetry. Contrasting woods have been arranged into bold diamond and angular compositions, creating the illusion of depth while emphasizing the architectural symmetry of each cabinet. Finely cast gilt-bronze scrolling foliate mounts occupy the corners of the drawer fronts, their brilliant gilded surfaces standing dramatically against the warm walnut, kingwood, satinwood, or similarly contrasting veneers.

The vertical corners are further enriched with elongated gilt-bronze mounts, while the lower corners terminate in particularly handsome acanthus-cast capitals. From these descend four slender, tapering legs, finished with additional gilt-bronze sabots. The result is a sophisticated balance between the visual weight of the marble and cabinet body and the relative delicacy of the supporting legs.

Paul Sormani (1817–1877) was one of the most important luxury cabinetmakers working in Paris during the Second Empire. Born in Italy and established in Paris, he specialized in exceptionally fine furniture inspired by the great eighteenth-century masters, particularly pieces in the Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Transitional manners. His workshop produced what was described as meubles de luxe, and his clientele included the highest levels of European society. Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was among the prominent patrons associated with Sormani's furniture.

Sormani's reputation was firmly established through the great international exhibitions. He received a first-class medal at Paris in 1855, another award in London in 1862, and further acclaim at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle. Contemporary criticism praised the firm's workmanship as being of the “first order.” In 1867 Sormani moved his celebrated establishment to 10 rue Charlot, Paris. Following his death in 1877, the business continued under his widow and son, Paul-Charles Sormani.

Especially relevant to this pair, documented Sormani commodes survive with marble tops, geometric marquetry, and elaborate gilt-bronze mounts, including matched pairs inspired by the eighteenth-century ébéniste Charles Topino. Sotheby's records a pair by Sormani with kingwood, satiné and satinwood veneers, gilt-bronze mounts, and Sarrancolin Opéra marble tops.

The fact that these commodes survive as a matched pair greatly enhances their decorative importance. Together, their richly colored marble, intricate geometric marquetry, finely chased gilt-bronze ornament, and elegant proportions create precisely the luxurious effect for which the Maison Sormani became celebrated. They are not merely functional chests of drawers, but sophisticated examples of nineteenth-century Parisian cabinetmaking in the grand eighteenth-century French tradition.



Dimensions: 34.75 inches high x 36.5 inches wide x 20.25 inches deep See less