An Attractive Mid-18th Century Ivory Fan, the upper guards carved...

Lot Description:

An Attractive Mid-18th Century Ivory Fan, the upper guards carved and pierced quite elaborately in a vertical panel, silvered and gilded. The fine gorge sticks are designed with two side oval features, bordered in gold, filled with classical objects, the central sticks featuring a large lidded urn. Gilded and silvered throughout. The vellum leaf, mounted à l'Anglaise, is painted centrally with a cottage by the river, from which can be viewed the nearby church and a sailing boat on the water. A lady looks out from the half open door, another lady in pink stands on the path, and two gentlemen in hats and one with a walking cane, approach. The scene is bordered in brown with gold painted detail. The reserves have a light and airy feel with delicate flowers and tendrils, some in bunches, others merely a single bloom, and intermittent tiny gold stars. The verso is painted with a single flower. Guard length approx. 10.75 inches or 27.5cm. Together with A Fan in Similar Vein, the central cartouche of the vellum leaf mounted à l'Anglaise, painted with two young couples taking their leisure by the riverside, one gentleman fishing, the other playing the pipe, a goat and dog at his feet. Two side vignettes are painted with tokens of love, and a beehive. The monture is silvered. The upper guards are incised to give an unusual basket weave effect, over which are carved two paisley boteh, and flowers. The gorge sticks have the same ground, and rather unusual design, complementing the boteh on the upper guards. Probably Dutch. The verso is painted in pastels with a simple spray of flowers. Guard length approx. 10.5 inches or 27cm. (2)

Condition Report:
. The first fan is surprisingly sound and clean for the period. The upper guard lacks one small detail, a twisted white metal bar which is present in the lower guard. The monture on the second fan is unusual, and the silvering retains shine.