A pair of gilt-bronze mounted laque burgauté porcelain candelabra, late 18th/ early 19th century, in the manner of François Rémond

Christie's London, The Property of The Earl of Harewood, 1 July 1965, lot 52;

Christie's Paris, The Collection of Hélène Rochas, 27 September 2012, lot 84.

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Christie's Londres, The Property of The Earl of Harewood, 1 juillet 1965, lot 52;

Christie's Paris, The Collection of Hélène Rochas, 27 septembre 2012, lot 84.

Candelabra with clusters of lights similar to those on the present lot include those in the collection of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild and now in Waddesdon Manor (illustrated in Geoffrey de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, Furniture, Clocks and Gilt Bronzes, Vol. II, Fribourg 1974, p. 696-697). This type of mount, with its twisted and fluted arms, was very popular from the late 18th century onwards. The mask motif on the base of the handles of the present vases is an ornament found on a number of Transitional sconces and arms. Burgauté lacquer - named after the shell burgau or burgao (Livona pica) - is a technique probably invented in China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). It involves inlaying small pieces of dyed mother-of-pearl and mother-of-pearl powder into prepared lacquer, and in addition to porcelain was applied to small objects such as boxes, bowls, and trays. This highly refined process met with great success when imported to Europe and was taken up by French craftsmen. The technique was also practised in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1867).

The candelabra shown here may be those mentioned in the 1892 inventory of Harewood House by Lofts and Warner: 'A pair of vases of Chinese Porcelain covered with lac burgauté on a black ground decoration representing landscapes with water on ormolu. Bases and rims and loose marble stands'. The great collection of mounted porcelain at Harewood House was largely assembled by Edward Lascelles, 1st Earl of Harewood (1740-1820), who was an active buyer in the sales of aristocratic collections in France after the Revolution. His taste was particularly heterogeneous and very discerning in the field, and renowned for the beauty of its collections, Queen Charlotte and the Prince Regent even visited Harewood in 1815. 

In February 1922, the present pair of burgauté lacquer vases had passed by descent into the collection of Henry Charles George Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (1882-1947) and his wife Her Highness Princess Mary (1897- 1965), Countess of Harewood, daughter of King George V, at Chesterfield House, Mayfair, London. They were photographed in the West Hall around 1930 by Country Life. In 1948 the vases were lent Frogmore House, in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The candelabra were later sold in 1965 for 1,155 guineas at Christie's in London.