Britannia! A Late 18th Century Ivory Fan with slender monture,...

Lot Description:

Britannia! A Late 18th Century Ivory Fan with slender monture, carved and pierced in a regular, classical style. The double leaf features a central oval, printed and hand coloured and showing Britannia with her shield, trident and plumed centurion helmet holding the hand of two women, seated one at each side, one with a harp. The oval is bordered with gold sequins and additional sequins in gold and green form a simple upper border. The verso has a pale watercolour image of the recto scene. Guard length approx. 10 inches or 25.5cm. Together with A Second Printed and Hand Coloured Fan of a similar age, the double leaf showing Venus and Adonis, outside a bower (or military draped tent?), several winged cherubs carrying provisions, stoking flames and gathering flowers or fruit. The verso is plain. Mounted on slender sticks, the gorge of ivory, the guards of tortoiseshell. Guard length approx. 9.25 inches or 23.5cm (2)

Condition Report:
. Britannia is quite sound, but would benefit from cleaning. Slight damage to the leaf seen when held to the light. The second fan has major splits to several folds but is holding. Again, would benefit from cleaning.