Large pair of Rouge Royal marble and ormolu candelabra by Sormani

This Louis XVI style pair of candelabra is crafted by Paul Sormani (1817-1877), the celebrated Italian-French cabinetmaker. Establishing his workshop in 1847, Sormani mostly crafted pieces in the elegant Louis XV and Louis XVI styles, an example of which are the pieces in Mayfair Gallery’s collection. His creations won numerous awards at international exhibitions and impressed royalty, with, for example, Empress Eugene decorating her palaces with Sormani’s furniture.

The two pieces are of an identical design. The vases are crafted from Royal Rouge marble and mounted with ormolu adornments. The marble surface is decorated with naturally occurring maroon and white patterns of various shapes and sizes adding interest to the design. Two shaped handles extend from the sides of the vases, their scrolled design matching the pedestals below. Each one is supported by a spreading socle stand on a circular plinth. Emerging from the vases are six ormolu branches filled with leaves and flowers acting as the candelabra.

The ormolu pedestals are surmounted by a triangular top supported on three shaped legs. The upper part features a prominent scallop-shaped mount surrounded by foliate garlands draped all around the pedestals. Each of the three sides includes a large, shaped cartouche filled with a panel of Royal Rouge marble, matching the design of the candelabra. Various scrolls and nature-inspired motifs surround the cartouche, which terminates with a circular finial. The pedestals stand on very ornate, scrolled feet mounted on a raised plinth adorned with an acanthus and scallop-filled frieze. The upper frieze is signed ‘P. SORMANI’.

Both the ormolu as well as the Royal Rouge marble features are superbly crafted, highlighting Sormani’s superb skills. The prominent size of the candelabra makes them especially suitable for, for example, framing a doorway.