Edward I. Farmer (1872-1942) was a well-known dealer of art and antiques in New York City. His galleries, located at 5 West 56th Street and 16 East 56th Street, specialized in both Chinese and European works of art for twenty-nine years. Combining these two interests, Farmer was most known for mounting Chinese porcelains and jades onto decorative lamps and desk accessories, such as in the present lot, and the cigar box and matchbox holder, lot 919 in this sale. Farmer’s breadth and expertise in collecting was demonstrated in April and December of 1947, when the contents of his galleries were sold in two separate three day sales at Parke-Bernet Galleries.