A pair of carved gilt-wood stands in form of female terms, topped by green portor marble, on an Ionic capital with an egg and dart frieze; the female head wears beads in her hair and a necklace at her throat, on a tapering column carved throughout with fish-scales, and with husk trails, scrolls at the side and acanthus scroll feet.

This pair of stands, and another pair (RCIN 1232) are probably those described in Benjamin Goodison’s Wardrobe Account as ‘4 Stands carved & gilt Term fashion’. All four together cost £42. The following entry in the accounts details ‘4 Girandoles to carry 4 Candles Each’ at a cost of £17, which were probably intended to be placed on the top of each stand. These ‘Girandoles’ (or candelabra) have not been traced, although designs (by Kent) for candelabra were published by J. Vardy in Some Designs of Mr Inigo Jones & Mr William Kent, 1744 (pls. 18 & 24). This pair was intended for Prince Frederick's Apartment at Hampton Court, at the northern end of the east front of the Palace adjoining the Queen's State Apartment.

Benjamin Goodison’s role as cabinet-maker to the Great Wardrobe and to the Household of the Prince of Wales is neatly paralleled in architecture by William Kent. Although Kent’s involvement at Hampton Court from 1731, as architect to the Board of Works meant that he oversaw the designs of both the interiors and the furniture, documentary evidence of a direct link between Kent and Goodison is lacking.

Text adapted from The First Georgians; Art and Monarchy 1714 - 1760, London, 1714