Folding fan: M.367-1985

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Entities

Folding fan
cabriolet fan

Description

Double paper leaf in two parts, painted in water-colours, the front also appliqued with painted ivory and coloured silks. Gold binding on upper edge. Shaped sticks and guards of enamelled gilt filigree (18+2),the guards overlaid on the front by chased panels, gilt in two colours and also silvered. (Metals to be determined)
Front: The upper leaf is painted with sixteen figures of Chinese men, women and children, in outdoor and indoor settings. They have faces of applied painted ivory and clothes of silk. The lower leaf is painted with foreign shipping in a strait or bay.
Back: The upper leaf is painted with foreign and Chinese shipping in a strait or bay. The lower leaf has a white ground painted with two birds amid flowers and foliage.
Sticks: Stylized floral sprays enamelled in green and blue on a gilt filigree ground.
Guards: Similar to the guards, the panels on the front, chased with two figures, two trees and a spray of leaves in low relief.

Notes

History note: Colonel Leonard C. Messel (1872-1953); Anne, Countess of Rosse (1902-1992)

Legal notes

Purchased with a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and a gift from The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (1985-01-28) by Countess of Rosse, Anne

Dating

19th Century, Mid#
Production date: circa AD 1840

Note

Chinese, for the export market.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Appliqué composed of silk ( coloured) ivory ( painted)
Sticks+guards composed of filigree ( gilt)
Leaf composed of paper watercolours
Guards Length 27.7 cm