A Late 18th Century Grand Tour Fan with several Italian...

Lot Description:

A Late 18th Century Grand Tour Fan with several Italian views and corresponding written detail, the simply formed ivory sticks painted subtly in gold and red with a Chinoiserie design, with low buildings and tall pagodas. The same scene is clearer on the verso, showing additionally very stylised trees with blossom. Finished with short tortoiseshell thumb guards. The double velum leaf, plain to the verso, the recto with five Italian locations visited during the grand Tour. The central slightly larger cartouche shows the Grotta di Puzzioli. To the left, two circular vignettes showing a smoking Monte di Strongoli (Stromboli), and the Sepolcro di Virgilio. To the right, two more, showing the Tempio dei Gigante and possibly the Grotta del Carne.

Condition Report:
. The paint on the monture is extensively rubbed, more so on the recto than the verso. The lower leaf border detailing the locations of the featured ruins is very hard to read. Having said that, this fan is featuring locations not often noted on the standard examples showing the major ruins. Guard length 26cm