By any other name - portraits of Harry Furniss aka Paul d'Este/d'Esti aka Paul Furniss, etc., circa 1920s

 

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Harry Furniss - or William Henry Paul Furniss; his name was constantly changing - (1892-1945) was a dancer, actor, director, producer, writer, and even a costume designer. Other than that, the only information I've found on him is this, adapted from the online catalogue of the state library of New South Wales:

Harry W. Furniss was the son of Raymond Furniss, manager of the Bury Hippodrome Theatre, near Manchester. During his career his name was sometimes spelt "Furness" and he called himself Paul Furniss in Australia. He danced in Britain as Paul d'Este or Paul d'Esti during the 1920's. His father was a cousin of Harry Furniss, the famous illustrator.

In 1913-1914, Harry toured England in "The Great White Chief". In 1914 he played in "The Curate" and "The Temptress of Paris", both for the Metropole stock company. Also in 1914 he produced his own comedy "At the Agent's"; "His Mother's Rosary" followed in 1915. He was next in "Her Bridal Hour" and then he played the Emperor in the pantomimes "Aladdin" and "Dick Whittington" (1917), in which he also danced. In 1920 he was in "Medorah", dancing with Dithy Tarling at the Alhambra in London; he designed some of the "gorgeous frocks" as well. In the same year he was also in "My Lady's Dress" starring Gladys Cooper, then "The Romantic Young Lady". Also at this time he was working on an Academy picture. In 1921 he played Markovitch in "Bulldog Drummond". He played an MP in "His House in Order" and by 1923 was in "The Dancers" with Tallulah Bankhead. In 1924 he wrote a cockney sketch called "London Sparrows" for the new Brighton Repertory Company.

In 1925 Harry, as Paul d'Esti, danced an Eastern Snake Dance with a live python, including a performance at Grosvenor House 18 September 1925 in aid of Russian refugees. Working in both English and French film productions at the time, he co-starred in the British film "The Little people" (1926), written and directed by George Pearson.

Furniss met Althea Glasby in England where she had performed with the Old Vic. He came to Australia in 1926 under contract to J.C. Williamson to produce plays in Sydney. He lived with Althea - probably platonically - in her Mosman home and they began their Sydney careers starring in a self-directed play "The Whirlpool". Harry's first Australian play "The Reformation of Annie Carey", set in Darling Point and North Queensland, followed for The Arts Theatre, St James Hall in 1927-1928. They also played in Harry's "The Laughing Ghost" for The Arts Theatre, Mosman Town Hall. Harry played Charles II in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury". Althea and Harry wrote, produced, and acted in several plays for The Four Arts Theatre Club.

In 1929 Harry returned to the United Kingdom to appear in comedies with Sybil Thorndike. While there he and Althea appeared in the talkies "The American Prisoner" and "Dark Red Roses", and he also sold the film rights to some of his plays. 

Harry returned to Australia on the liner Hobsons Bay in 1930 to produce plays at the Savoy Theatre, Sydney. In the Sydney Morning Herald, 23 September 1931, Harry and Althea are listed as classical and interpretive dancers and elocution teachers; they apparently aroused "interest" among ferry passengers because of Harry's collection of snakeskin shoes, and Harry introduced the tango, jazz waltz and one-step as they were an accomplished ballroom pair. The pair were friendly with Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard. Harry, billed as Paul Furniss, had a part in Harry Southwell's film "The Burgomeister" (1935) and in Ken Hall's "Lovers and Luggers" (1937). Althea Glasby and Paul Furniss were listed as living in Bondi North, New South Wales in 1939. (That's the last mention I can find for Furniss.)

I didn't notice until I was prepping the images for the post that in this portrait the highlights along his profile, as well as in his hair and on the front of his robe, were added to the original photograph, probably on the negative. Similar highlights have been added to the right side of the statuette.