A Mid-18th Century Ivory Fan, the velum leaf mounted à...

Lot Description:

A Mid-18th Century Ivory Fan, the velum leaf mounted à l'Anglaise and colourfully painted with Flora, having happened upon a young maiden seated at the riverside with a group of playful winged cherubs playing at her feet, one playing a lyre, the others concocting flower garlands. An oval vignette to the left, en grisaille, portrays a lone gentleman gazing at a ruin. To the right, in similar fashion, a lady sits in the shade of a tree in the grounds of a large county house with stone tower. The reserves are lightly painted in gold, with meandering flowers and leaves. The verso is plain, save for a still life. The upper guards are carved with a large female figure in elaborate gown, the gorge sticks with similar figures in the central cartouche, a small vignette at each side contains cherubs. Remaining sticks are intricately carved, some having been set with stones. Large diamanté at the rivet. Guard length approx. 11 inches or 28cm. Together with A Second 18th Century Ivory Fan, the vellum leaf mounted à l'Anglaise, the head quite bulbous, painted with a village setting, a maiden drawing water from the well, three young men hovering to catch her eye, one sitting on the grass next to a basket. The verso is a mix of Chinoiserie with gold highlights to the sides and a simple rural fence and grass painted to the centre. Guard length approx. 11 and 5/8 inches or 29.5cm; A Third Ivory Fan with good features to the carving, the upper guards having various characters, including a church, a large man, a duck of other water fowl, the lower section carved with several towers or parts of buildings. The fine gorge sticks, carved, pierced and brightly gilded, have three points of focus, containing figures. The verso is painted with a large spray of small flowers in violet, blue and pink, with dark green leaves and gold highlights, these being continued on the upper border. Guard length approx. 11.75 inches or 30cm (3)

Condition Report:
. The Flora fan leaf is a little rubbed, but generally this fan is sound and, had the silvering not tarnished, would have been particularly reflective in the light. The leaf of the second fan is quite well rubbed. Both guards lacking. The third fan has damage to the gorge sticks but the guards are intact. The bottom edge of the leaf is damaged where the gorge sticks have parted from the ribs.