The grandness and luxury of French design culminate in this partner's desk and multiple-drawer cartonnier, crafted by master cabinetmaker Paul Sormani. Sormani created this exceptional work after the model by Simon Oeben, one of the most successful ébénistes of the 18th century. The original set, made circa 1765, belonged to the Duc de Choiseul-Praslin, Prime Minister for Louis XV, and can be recognized in one of the gouaches by Van Blarenberghe of the interiors of Choiseul's house, circa 1770. The contents of Choiseul's house were sold in 1796 and Oeben's model was purchased by the Duke of Hamilton. In turn, the Duc d'Aumale purchased the same cartonnier from the Hamilton Palace sale of 1882 and it now resides in the Musée Condé a