The Toilet of Venus: A Large Early 18th Century Ivory...

Lot Description:

The Toilet of Venus: A Large Early 18th Century Ivory Fan, the upper guards plain, the lower sections shaped and carved at the shoulder and mid gorge, and particularly at the head, which splays when the fan is open. The single vellum leaf, mounted à l'Anglaise, shows a brightly colourful depiction of Venus at her Toilet, outside on a veranda with imposing Italianate buildings to the background, surrounded by handmaidens, one proffering a large mirror, others seeking to please their mistress, a jewellery box to the foreground, cherubs playing in front of a fountain, the water spouting from the mouth of a large fish. Cupid holds his bow and arrow to the right, to the side of a maiden creating floral displays. The verso is plain. Guard length approx. 11.25 inches or 28.5cm. Together with A Circa 1760's Découpé Fan, the monture of ivory, carved and pierced in classical fashion, the double leaf painted with garlands and sprays of flowers, some traditional, some more of the wild. The découpage follows the top border and down into vertical panels at regular intervals. The verso is painted with simple red flowers. Guard length approx. 10.25 inches or 26cm; finally, An 18th Century Ivory Fan with a pink theme. The shaped guards are carved and painted with pink blooms. The gorge has a look of a pagoda fan at the shoulder, with the top of the sticks forming two or three straight sections not usually seen on such a folding fan. The pastoral scene of a musical gathering, led by Cupid playing his pipe, is painted in shades of pink against a silvered background, and the small object painted on the gorge continue this theme. The verso, silvered, is painted with pink flowers. Guard length approx. 10.5 inches or 26.5cm (3)

Condition Report:
. Good, strong colours retained. Both guards have old nailed repairs with metal plates at the shoulders. Some wear and slight damage mid-leaf bottom edge where the sticks have come detached from the ribs. The second fan has damage to the decoupage. The upper guard lacks the first 5 cm and the other guard looks to have been repaired at the same point. One gorge stick has broken but the section is present, but the colours remain strong. A pretty and feminine fan despite faults. The final fan has a break to the upper guard with a small section missing. That guard is stuck to the first stick in. The silvered leaf is dull, as is the silvering on the guards.