Antique French PAUL SORMANI Louis XVI Jewelry Casket Burled Veneer Ornate Brass

  

Here we have a beautiful inlaid fruit wood box signed: P. It has a brass inlay on the lid with the initials "FS" we think.

The box is in very nice vintage condition with one small veneer piece missing at the back near a leg (see last photo). It closes and locks completely with the original key. It is trimmed on all edges of the lid with brass and well as inlaid brass on the lid. Beautiful veneer work on all sides as is expected on a Sormani box. The box measures 9 1/4" long including the brass legs by 7" wide by 4 1/8 high. The interior is blue silk that shows some age wear. The hinges are strong and the box is solid.

A charming and rare piece in this style. Paul Sormani: Master Cabinetmaker of the 19th Century 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.

When she decorated her palace, Empress Eugenie, the wife of Emperor Napoleon III, who was particularly fond of furniture in the 18th century styles, engaged 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 marbles.

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". He received a medal of premiere classe at the Exposition Universelle of 1855, followed by another medal at the 1862 exposition in London The workshop also made eclectic furniture in contemporary styles.

Please be sure to enlarge the photos for more detail and don't hesitate to ask questions. Antique French PAUL SORMANI Louis XVI Jewelry Casket Burled Veneer Ornate Brass. The box is in very nice vintage condition with one small veneer piece missing at the back near a leg (see photo).

Paul Sormani: Master Cabinetmaker of the 19th Century. Paul Sormani (1817 to 1877), one the most important cabinetmakers of the 19th century, was born in Venice. We are not only sellers, we are buyers as well. We always appreciate when sellers pack our items well. We always endeavor to describe items to the best of our knowledge.

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Auctiva offers Free Image Hosting and Editing. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Decorative Collectibles\Boxes, Jars & Tins". The seller is "kamraman" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Type: Box
• Brand: Sormani
• Country/Region of Manufacture: France