Fan
Date1750-1760
OriginEurope, Germany
MediumPaper (Mount); Ivory (Sticks); Paint; Metallic Gold Paint; Mother-of-Pearl (Rivet at Hinge); Brass (Hinge); Metal (pique work on guards)
DimensionsLength: 11 1/2"; Width (when Open): 17"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1956-6,A
DescriptionFolding fan with paper mount on carved and painted ivory sticks. The painted mount depicts three figures, two women in robes and one man in armor, around a burning beacon. They are seated in a pastoral setting next to a structure. They are bordered by vines and conventionalised flowers in pinks, yellows, and purples that run the perimeter of the mount. The reverse of the fan depicts a simple watercolor of a man hunting in a red jacket. The top and bottom border at front is edged in metallic gold paint. The reverse has a line of paint bordering the perimeter of the leaf that may have at one time been a copper-alloy. The sticks of the fan are notched and uncarved. On their face, they are painted with a central motif of a basket overflowing with grapes framed on the left side by an image of a stringed instrument and sheet music and on the right by an image of a horn and sheet music. Each motif has a small bird perched on one of the objects. they are surrounded by foliage interspersed with pink and blue roses giving the illusion of each image being given its own small cartouche. The top of the sticks just below the mount is edged in metallic gold paint. The guards are both pierced and carved in simple scrollwork and linework. Paint remnants indicate they also at one time were painted with foliage and roses. The hinge is brass with a mother-of-pearl rivet.
Construction History:
1. : Initially Constructed
InscribedOn the reverse at the bottom left hand corner is marked "D : J" or "D : U" in pencil
