Fan

Date1800-1825

Artist/Maker M. Danys

MediumSilk (Mount); Silk gauze (Used within Mount); Horn (Sticks); Wood (Ribs); Paint, Gold Gilt Paint; Silk Thread (Applying Spangles); Metal Spangles (Gold and Silver, of Varying Shapes); Metallic Gold Foil (Edging); Glass (Blue 'Stone' at Hinge); Brass (Loop and Hinge)

DimensionsLength (excluding ring at pivot end): 6 1/2"; Length (including ring at pivot end): 7 1/4"; Width: 12"

Credit LineAnonymous gift

Object number1971-1202

DescriptionEmpire fan of net and silk decorated with a central painting on light yellow silk of an eighteenth century dressed lady with a plain pink stomacher and a dark blue dress trimmed with golden-yellow robings, and a brooch at her bosom. Her hair is dressed with a pink band and plumes of various colors. A small semi-circular brass loop holds the ribs together at their base and is decorated on either side by a small piece of turquoise blue cut glass set in a silver-colored mount.The reverse of the fan has exposed wooden ribs which are painted grey with simple, vine-like patterns with metallic gold paint.

The oval portrait is enclosed by two rows of metallic trim, a row of tiny gold spangles and a row of silver star-shaped elements. Above the oval is a gold bow made from spangles. Graceful, painted ribbon swags, bordered by gold spangles, extend from either side of the medallion and two painted pink bows sit at the peak of the swags immediately bordering the portrait. Swags of roses follow the same line beneath the ribbon and also nearly surround the oval portrait. Each of the four peaks of the swags is decorated with a gold spangle in the shape of a flower. Small sprigs of roses are dispersed over the remaining exposed area. The silk net gauze runs the perimeter of the fan, with small bands of the yellow silk continuing beyond the border at the top and bottom of the fan mount. It is trimmed with a row of four lobed silver spangles on its face while the edges of the silk are trimmed with rows of tiny gold sequins. The top border of the fan is edged with gold-colored paper. The ribs are made of a horn material and decorated with finely incised lines of flowers, C-scrolls, etc. which were then rubbed with a gold paint or paste.

Empire fans, such as this one, came into fashion in the early nineteenth century and were intentionally small and simple in comparison to the highly embellished fans of the previous century. Their sticks were often made of bone or ivory although horn fans in particular became immensely popular during this period. Empire fans are often characterised by a simple stick with small, unobtrusive decorations and a deep mount which causes the sticks to be shorter than the fans of the eighteenth century. By the 1830s the large and lavish fans were returning to the forefront of fashionable society.

Markings"M. Danys"
ProvenancePurchased at "Miss Osborne's Antique Shop", 581 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, N.J., on December 1st, 1954, by Mrs. Tomlinson.