Hand fan - Silk, Bone - Grand ball fan.
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Anna Hue-Roques
Holds bachelor's degrees in Law and Art History with an Ecole du Louvre auctioneer diploma.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Rare Grand Ball Fan in Bone and Silk Painted by Hand – Sequin Embroidery – 18th-Century Revival Style – Napoleonic III Era (circa 1860-1870)
Elegante antique grand-ball fan dated to the second half of the nineteenth century (during the Napoleonic III era / Victorian Era, circa 1860-1870). The piece is a superb example of the 18th-Century Revival style, very fashionable at European courts of the time.
The mount consists of 14 shaped ribs in genuine bovine bone handcrafted by hand. The authentic nature of the material is clearly visible from the microscopic brown vascular channels (Havers lines) on the surface. The ribs are richly decorated with floral reliefs finished in gilt leaf, showing a splendid patina of time at the points of wear. The lower rivet is original brass, flat-headed, concealed, and free of modern screws, perfectly contemporary and functional.
The Page (Front and Back):
• The Painting: The main page is made of superfine silk, entirely hand-painted in tempera/wash (brush strokes clearly visible in relief). It depicts a classic 18th-century gallant scene with a couple in period dress immersed in a bucolic landscape framed by trees.
• The Sequin Embroidery: The textile work is truly intricate. The tiny metal sequins of the period are hand-sewn, one by one. The decoration unfolds in a lower floral surround and culminates at the top with an intricate geometric motif of 13 finely embroidered flowering ovals.
• The Back: As in high-end manufactured fans, the back features a second protective page of ultra-fine silk veil applied to hide and protect the embroidery knots.
Dimensions:
• Maximum length of the central ribs: 22 cm
• Length tapering toward the ends: 16 cm
Condition and Restoration Note:
The fan is structurally complete, intact in all components, and has no missing parts in the bone mounting. Textile-wise, the silk shows natural signs of age with several cuts and splits at the fold lines (as clearly shown in the attached photos). The item would benefit from conservative restoration of the silk, but it retains its extraordinary beauty and collectible value.
Rare Grand Ball Fan in Bone and Silk Painted by Hand – Sequin Embroidery – 18th-Century Revival Style – Napoleonic III Era (circa 1860-1870)
Elegante antique grand-ball fan dated to the second half of the nineteenth century (during the Napoleonic III era / Victorian Era, circa 1860-1870). The piece is a superb example of the 18th-Century Revival style, very fashionable at European courts of the time.
The mount consists of 14 shaped ribs in genuine bovine bone handcrafted by hand. The authentic nature of the material is clearly visible from the microscopic brown vascular channels (Havers lines) on the surface. The ribs are richly decorated with floral reliefs finished in gilt leaf, showing a splendid patina of time at the points of wear. The lower rivet is original brass, flat-headed, concealed, and free of modern screws, perfectly contemporary and functional.
The Page (Front and Back):
• The Painting: The main page is made of superfine silk, entirely hand-painted in tempera/wash (brush strokes clearly visible in relief). It depicts a classic 18th-century gallant scene with a couple in period dress immersed in a bucolic landscape framed by trees.
• The Sequin Embroidery: The textile work is truly intricate. The tiny metal sequins of the period are hand-sewn, one by one. The decoration unfolds in a lower floral surround and culminates at the top with an intricate geometric motif of 13 finely embroidered flowering ovals.
• The Back: As in high-end manufactured fans, the back features a second protective page of ultra-fine silk veil applied to hide and protect the embroidery knots.
Dimensions:
• Maximum length of the central ribs: 22 cm
• Length tapering toward the ends: 16 cm
Condition and Restoration Note:
The fan is structurally complete, intact in all components, and has no missing parts in the bone mounting. Textile-wise, the silk shows natural signs of age with several cuts and splits at the fold lines (as clearly shown in the attached photos). The item would benefit from conservative restoration of the silk, but it retains its extraordinary beauty and collectible value.
Details
Era
1400-1900
Title additional information
Grand ball fan.
Number of objects
1
Material
Bone, Silk
Condition
Fair condition - heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing
Height
23 cm
Width
28 cm
Depth
4 cm
Estimated period
1850-1900
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