I have no clue, never seen one like it, but it's FABULOUS!!!!! My initial reaction was ... Art Nouveau torchiere ... the shape and the intricate vining of the base and middle part, the scrolling metal work, and the lacy delicate look of it. Questions: 1 - Look EVERYWHERE for a stamped, engraved maker's mark or company name. Get a magnifying glass and a good light and look under the base, around the base, inspect every square inch of that thing ... Get the markings off the switch and the bulb socket too. 2 - does a magnet stick to all or some parts of it? It looks like wrought iron ... but if so, that's astounding work. If magnets don't stick, it may be bronze. Check that by making a scratch under the base - bronze will be a brownish metal. Silvery metal is "pot metal" or "spelter". 3 - Any idea where they were living when they acquired this? were they ever in Europe - military or diplomatic service,

Yes, it is an Amaranthus. Years ago, a neighbor gave me some cuttings of what she called Indian Spinach. Even though it is a tropical, it will self-seed year after year in Zone 7 if not lower and can even become somewhat weedy, but it is attractive, many species are edible, and it can keep other weeds down.

1. is too far away to id. for certain. Possibly Spiraea arguta clipped so it hasn't flowered. 2. is a Fuchsia - not necessarily a winter hardy one. 3. is Buddleja - quite likely a self sown one that someone has attempted to cut down. 4. Sorbus cultivar possibly S aucuparia 'Chinese Lace'. 5. Philadelphus or Deutzia - new growth is tricky to distinguish. Erring on the side of Philadelphus. 6. Potentilla fruticosa (see above for the latest name change but still widely referred to as Potentialla.) 7. Campanula portenschlagiana, a very common self sower. 8. Aucuba japonica All are run of the mill except the Sorbus. If you cadged that one you got a bargain.

Yes the time-glitch sometimes happened to me too, as peren.all said. @bunnydefluff, yes your plant is Phaleria macrocarpa, a famous herbal plant here in my place, we called it Mahkota dewa (gods crown). The rind is used, but the seed is toxic (must be carefully avoided) Here is some picts of my plant Phaleria macrocarpa, green and red eta: @ shaxhome I am by any means not an expert at all on tropical plants....really LOL.