Qua - William Farquhar Tealight Holder (Animals), Set of 2
- Low stock - 2 items left
MATERIAL
Lacquer on wood, packaged in fabric box, tealights included
DIMENSIONS (L x W x H) CM
14 x 7.5 x 7.5
DETAILS
Qua presents the Tealight Holder, Set of 2, from the William Farquhar collection, with the artworks of the Loris and the Gibbon. It serves as the perfect Singapore housewarming gift and souvenir for overseas visitors and guests.
THE SLOW LORIS is a well-loved, large eyed, solitary primate, extremely rare in Singapore due to habitat loss and poaching. Once common in the 19th century, sightings in Singapore are now likely of escapees from capitivity. Mainly nocturnal, it moves slowly and assuredly through rainforest trees looking for soft fruit, nectar, tree sap and insects.
THE DARK-HANDED GIBBON, pictured here hanging off a mangosteen tree, occurs mainly in the northern part of the Malaysia Peninsula. It is an endangered species as a result of losses of its forest habitat.
These are two of the 477 watercolour drawings commissioned by William Farquhar, depicting the flora and fauna of the Malay Peninsula at that time.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION
The collection comprises 477 watercolour drawings commissioned by William Farquhar, the first Resident and Commandant of Singapore (1819-1823), during his prior tenure as Resident of Melaka.
These natural history drawings depict the flora and fauna of the Malay Peninsula, most likely accomplished by local Chinese artists, with inscriptions identifying the species by their English and Malay names.
Farquhar brought this set along with him when he left Singapore, and subsequently donated it to the Royal Asiatic Society in London in 1827. In 1993, it was put up for auction and purchased by Mr G.K. Goh, who donated the entire collection to the National Museum of Singapore.