A Fine Pair of Transitional Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Parquetry Commodes

Description

A Fine Pair of Transitional Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Parquetry Commodes, by Paul Sormani, After the Model by Charles Topino.

Stamped beneath the marble top to one commode ‘SORMANI’ also stamped on the lockplate ‘P. SORMANI , PARIS., 10 RUE CHARLOT’. Stamped on the back of both locks ‘B THEAU SERRURIER PARIS’, and also stamped on reverse of handle plate ‘H.P.R’.

This fine pair of commodes have shaped ‘Sarrancolin Opéra’ marble tops with moulded edges above guilloche banded frieze drawers and two lower drawers mounted with classical urns and rocaille. The drawers are flanked by stiles mounted with husked swags and the commodes are raised on cabriole legs with paw sabots. The commodes are illustrated by Christopher Payne in his book ‘Paris Furniture: The Luxury Market of the 19th Century’; p. 181.

This distinctive transitional model of commode, is based on the designs of the famous 18th century ébéniste Charles Topino, (maître in 1773). The signature mounts of classical urns beneath swaged drapery can be found on many examples of Topino’s work. These include a commode illustrated in Pradère, Alexandre. French Furniture Makers, The Art of the Ébéniste from Louis XIV to the Revolution; p. 320, fig. 363, and illustrated in Kjellberg, Pierre. Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIème siècle, (Dijon), 1998; p.844, fig.a. A related commode by Topino can be found in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, [1986.156.1 ab].