A pair of George IV ormolu photophores, each standing on three leaf cast lion paw legs, with a central pendant pine cone boss, rising to an anthemion cast, beaded and reeded shaft supporting the stiff leaf and entrelac cast drip pan, and anthemion cast nozzle with bell shaped glass shades. Height 80 cm. Provenance: Mallett at Bourdon house, London, 1993, Mr J. Smiley, Woollahra. Other Notes: These magnificent ormolu hurricane candlesticks typify the antiquarian taste of George IV when he furnished Carlton House as Prince Regent. Similar to a 'Gilt bronze torchere of antique form' supplied circa 1805 and designed by Rundell Bridge and Rundell, and now at Windsor Castle. Rundells copied their design closely from contemporary records of the archaeological discoveries at Herculaneum in a folio publication, dedicated to Ferdinand IV of Naples, entitled 'Delle Antichita di Ercolano' volume 8, published in 1792, containing 21 plates of 'Candelabri'. Also influential were the designs of Giovanni Battista Piranesi and his publication 'Vasi, candelabri cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi?' of 1780.