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Lot Essay
The torchere is virtually identical to the pair formerly at Campsea Ashe, Suffolk and which subsequently graced two of the most important 20th century collections of English furniture. They were probably supplied to Sir William Lowther for Swillington Hall, Yorkshire, and thence passed by descent to the Hon. William Lowther (d. 1912), youngest brother of the 3rd Earl of Lonsdale, at Lowther Lodge, and subsequently to James, Viscount Ullswater (d. 1949) at The High House, Campsea Ashe. The 1949 Campsea Ashe sale included exceptional Queen Anne walnut and parcel-gilt furniture and the pair of torcheres, lot 942, was acquired by the collector Samuel Messer. They were, in turn, sold after Messer's death, Christie's, London, 5 December 1991, lot (69 (£99,000 including premium) and later were acquired by Simon Sainsbury, only to be sold once more Christie's, London, 18 June 2008, lot 90 (£289,250 including premium).
Torcheres such as these have traditionally been highly prized by connoisseurs and an identical pair of candle stands is known from the collection of the late S.B. Joel (sold Christie's, London, 29 May 1935, lot 128 to M. Harris). This may well be the same pair that was in the Gubbay collection at Clandon Park, Surrey until the recent tragic fire. Other related pairs were in the collection of Lord Barnard at Raby Castle, Co. Durham, and in the James Thursby-Pelham collection.
Torcheres such as these have traditionally been highly prized by connoisseurs and an identical pair of candle stands is known from the collection of the late S.B. Joel (sold Christie's, London, 29 May 1935, lot 128 to M. Harris). This may well be the same pair that was in the Gubbay collection at Clandon Park, Surrey until the recent tragic fire. Other related pairs were in the collection of Lord Barnard at Raby Castle, Co. Durham, and in the James Thursby-Pelham collection.