French, late 19th C. Ormolu-mounted kingwood envelope card table, the square top with four hinged triangular segments, each flap opening to reveal a burgundy leather-lined playing surface, above a frieze drawer, the lockplate engraved "SORMANI PARIS, 10 Rue Charlot," on cabriole legs each headed by a floral clasp, on scrolling sabots.
28-3/4"h x 23"sq.
Literature: D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Francais du XIXe Siècle, Paris, 1984, pp. 583 & 585 (a similar card table illustrated). R5711 Paul Sormani was born in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venice in 1817, and produced standard and fantasy furniture from a number of locations in Paris from the mid-19th Century. In 1858 he expanded his business, producing articles styled from the previous century's maître ebenistes, and in 1867 established workshops at 10, rue Charlot. After Sormani's death in 1877, the business continued by his widow and son, Paul-Charles, under the name Sormani Veuve Paul et Fils. The business later moved to 134, boulevard Haussman.