Fan
Date1760-1780
OriginEngland
MediumPaper (Mount); Ivory (Sticks); Paint; Gilt Paint; Mother-of-Pearl and Metal Hinge
DimensionsLength: 10 1/2"; Width: 19 3/4"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1953-223
DescriptionThe fan is composed of paper mount with painted scene of two men and two women with grain sheaves sitting to their left before Corinthian columns in a landscape. The woman at left holds a grain sheave in her arms while the other woman sits at the foot of the columns. One man stands in between the women while the other sits below the one seated.Large floral sprays accented with gilt paint border the scene at each end. The fan reverse is decorated with a single floral spray at center. Pierced ivory sticks are both shaped and straight with three diamond-shaped medallions spanning six sticks. The diamonds are bordered with gilt paint and uncarved, containing painted scenes. The central scene depicts a floral scene with a blue bird, the left only shows floral images, and the right is mostly missing but appears to depict instruments, books, or other human tokens. Ivory guards are shaped and plain until the mount begins. Over the leaf they are carved with foliage and conventionalised flowers. Construction History:
1. 1760-1780: Initiall constructed
2. Unknown Date: At least three, possibly four, sticks missing at the right side of the fan as evidenced by the diamond medallion being cut off at its peak.
3. Unknown Date: The fan leaf was cut and adhered to the right guard with some kind of glue that is visible through the guard's carvings.
4. Unknown Date: A cartouche-like shape on each fan guard with an uncarved center is covered with a brown stain or substance, possibly from an additional decoration or illustration that has since been removed.
5. Ernest LoNano, January 19 1954 "cleaning, repairing, restoring".
