BY PAUL SORMANI, PARIS, CIRCA 1870

Born in the Kingdom of Lombardy, Venice, in 1817, Paul Sormani produced standard and fantasy furniture, described by himself as "meubles de luxe". Operating from large premises at 114, rue du Temple and, from 1867, at 10, rue Charlot, he specialised in reproducing styles of the Louis XV and XVI eras and his work was thought to reveal "une qualité d'exécution de tout premier ordre". His creations were frequently exhibited and rewarded at the major international exhibitions of the 1860s and 70s. On his death in 1877, the firm was taken over by his widow, Ursule-Marie-Philippine Bouvaist, who, known as 'Veuve Sormani' was joined and later succeeded by her son.

This table en chiffonière is a fine example of Sormani's talent as imitator of the 18th century style. Porcelain-mounted furniture was popularised in the 1770s by fashion-setting marchands-merciers, such as Simon-Philippe Poirier (d. 1777) and Dominique Daguerre (d. 1796), and the finest Sèvres panels were incorporated in the work of a number of ébénistes, among the most celebrated being Roger Vandercruse, Adam Weisweiler and, in particular, Martin Carlin. In the 19th century, porcelain-mounted furniture in the 18th century manner was sought after by connoisseurs such as John Jones (d. 1882), who bequeathed his collection of French decorative arts to the South Kensington Museum.