BY PAUL SORMANI, PARIS, THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

Much like other celebrated ébénistes of the 19th century, Paul Sormani (d. 1877) produced decorations and fantasy furniture described as meubles de luxe. Operating from a large premises at 114, rue du Temple and, from 1867, and then at 10, rue Charlot, Sormani specialized in reproducing styles of the Louis XV and XVI eras and his work was thought to reveal 'une qualité d'excution de tout premier ordre'. Upon his death, the firm was taken over by his widow and son, Ursule-Marie-Philippine Bouvaist, and became known as 'Veuve Sormani & Fils'.