A pair of carved padouk torchères, each with a circular slightly dished top on a spiral turned shaft with facetted and fluted base supported by pierced foliate brackets on a tripod base with pad feet, one with metal bracket to plinth, each labelled ‘HHTF:1997.212’.

While a number of forms of furniture are well known to have been produced in Canton for export to the West, the instance of a pair of carved wood torchères is extremely rare – and possibly unique. It is also very interesting to note that while their concept clearly owes a debt to their English equivalent, they demonstrate a very Chinese personality in their ornament. The spiral-carved stem is inspired by English turned decoration but is actually hand-carved and quite different in effect. The stem is supported by scroll pierced brackets which sit upon an inscribed platform above the cabriole legs which simultaneously demonstrate their Western origins and Eastern workmanship. The Hon. Edward ‘Beau’ Lascelles was the first son of Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood. His great interest in rare and unusual furnishings was noted at the time by Thomas Raikes (1777-1848) in his celebrated journal: ‘His house though not large, was a museum of curiosities selected with great taste and judgement … His life was luxurious but short, as he died at the age of fifty’.