A pair of Italian Venetian giltwood lanterns, with ebonised decoration, each with a shell carved domed top, above a hexagonal body, inset with later glass panels, flanked by semi naked female caryatids, on a leaf carved fluted stem inset with glass panels and hung with laurel swags, on tapering feet, late 18th / early 19th century but later adapted, 91.7cm high, 29.5cm wide. (2)
Provenance: Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet PRA (1829-1896) and by descent.
Sir John Everett Millais was an English painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In 1855 Millais married Effie Gray, the former wife of the art critic John Ruskin. It is intriguing to think these lanterns were possibly acquired by Effie in Venice whilst on honeymoon with her former husband.