A Mid-18th Century Ivory Fan, the upper guards particularly well...

Lot Description:

A Mid-18th Century Ivory Fan, the upper guards particularly well carved and silvered with a painted Chinoiserie figure to the top and a tiny figure within a pagoda beneath. Various figures and pagodas are painted in colour to the gorge. The bold leaf in strong gold is painted with a large and colourful bird, perched amongst bright pink and orange blooms. The verso is formed from a peppermint green paper printed with gold flowers. Guard length approx. 10.5 inches or 27cm. Together with An Earlier 18th Century Ivory Fan, the sticks slender and seen to be narrower than the gorge when closed. The guards are carved with stylised vases and other objects and the background to these has been painted in shades of brown. The double leaf shows a solitary musician in colourful robe seated behind a strung instrument, under the shade of a contorted tree, with flowering blossom. A colourful bird in flight, and a jardiniere on stand holding flowers, complete the scene. The verso features a simple floral spray. Guard length approx. 10.5 inches or 28.5cm; and A Third Ivory Fan, mid-18th century, the upper guards with two painted panels designed with birds and flowers, separated by applied decoration that could be ground mother of pearl, feeling rough but matt in colour. The gorge sticks are plain wood, dyed dark brown. The double paper leaf is subtly painted with flowers in pastels, tinged with gold, and a large bird, listening to a musician playing the flute at a podium accompanied by a younger robed figure carrying a traditional fixed fan. The verso features a simple drawing of a seated figure under a tree, with dog. Guard length approx. 12.25 inches or 31cm (3)

Condition Report:
. The face of the musician in the second fan is blackened with age.