351 - PAUL SORMANI

PAUL SORMANI MAHOGANY AND GILT BRONZE DISPLAY CABINET IN THE STYLE OF SORMANI FRANCE, LATE 19TH CENTURY. An elegant single-door display cabinet with lock, executed in mahogany and richly mounted with gilt bronze, represents a brilliant example of French historicism of the second half of the 19th century in the spirit of the Sormani workshop. The proportions of the elongated rectangular body with chamfered corners are distinguished by exceptional harmony and architectural refinement. The piece stands on slender cabriole legs fitted with bronze mounts that emphasize the lightness of its silhouette. The frieze is adorned with a finely chased gilt bronze garland featuring youthful satyrs carrying their inebriated companion, lending the composition playful dynamism and an allusion to 18th-century Bacchic scenes. The chamfered angles are decorated with laurel wreaths and musical grotesques. The central panel is enriched with luxuriant floral garlands tied with ribbon, suspending a bagpipe and attributes of pastoral music. The compositional nodes are accentuated with refined mascarons. Particular attention should be drawn to the delicate graphic quality of the bronze bands, the pearl-beaded molding of the panels, and the exquisite modeling of floral motifs, forming a harmonious decorative ensemble. The glazing is beveled on three sides. The interior is lined with deep red fabric and fitted with two glass shelves. The top is composed of pink marble with natural veining, enhancing the decorative effect and underscoring the status of the piece. Dimensions: 149 × 64.5 × 38.5 cm. Material: Mahogany, gilt bronze, glass, pink marble. Condition: Good. Minor wear to the gilding consistent with age. Provenance: Private collection. Width: 64.5cm, Height: 149cm, Depth: 38.5cm, Weight: 30kg, Condition: Exc., Usual restorations, Material: Gilded bronze, Mahogany, ID: ID-ANTQ-8154