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RARE FRENCH ROYALIST FAN , PROBABLY PRODUCED BY MADAME DESPEAUX’S MAISON, RUE DE GRAMONT, PARIS, AS QUOTED BY BLONDEL , REPORTING AN AD IN THE " JOURNAL DES HOMMES LIBRES DE L'AN IV " (1796) . HERE IS SAID THAT THESE FANS WERE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AND EXPENSIVE KIND. (SEE ALSO " AUTANT EN PORTE LE VENT - EVENTAILS , HISTOIRE DU GOUT " p.66 N ° 77). MANY SCHOLARS IN THE PAST CONSIDERED THAT THE FANS WITH THESE FEATURES WERE PRODUCED IN ENGLAND, THE MISUNDERSTANDING, HOWEVER , ACCORDING TO ME , IS ARISING FROM THE FACT THAT MADAME DESPAUX TRANSFERRED HER BUSINESS IN ENGLAND FOLLWING THE EXODUS OF NOBLE FROM FRANCE ( FROM AUGUST 16, 1789 STARTED THE EMIGRATION OF MONARCHISTS , IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TAKING OF BASTILLE . THIS FAN WAS MADE IN THIS HISTORICAL CONTEXT ) . THE LEAF IS OF BLACK GAUZE , WITH APPLICATION OF SMALL SILK FLOWERS AND LEAVES IN ADDITION TO SEWN SEQUINS . IN THE MIDDLE THERE IS A PAPER MEDAILLON WITH A "MEZZOTINT" ETCHING. SUSAN MAYOR WRITES IN "THE LETTS GUIDE TO COLLECTING FANS" - 1991 PAGES 58/59 THAT AT THE TIME ONLY TWO FANS WERE KNOWN WITH SUCH A TECHNIC, ONE OF THESE VERY SIMILAR TO THIS ONE AND THE OTHER IN MY COLLECTION WITH THE PORTRAIT OF LOUIS XVI, MARIE ANTOINETTE AND THE LITTLE DAUPHIN . THE AUTHOR OF THE PORTRAITS PROPABLY IS JOSEPH SAUVAGE, WHILE THE ENGRAVING ALMOST SURELY IS OF AUBIN DE SAINT AUGUSTIN, THE KING’S ENGRAVER , BORN IN PARIS IN 1736 AND DIED IN 1807. THE PERSONAGES HERE REPRESENTED ARE JOSEPH LOUIS DE BOURBON PRINCE OF CONDE ' BORN ON AUGUST 9th 1736, THE LOUIS XVI KING’S BROTHER, LOUIS DE BOURBON, FUTURE KING LOUIS XVIII BORN ON NOVEMBER 11st 1755 AND CHARLES OF BURGUNDY COUNT OF ARTOIS, LOUIS XVI’S SECOND BROTHER AND FUTURE KING CHARLES X BORN ON OCTOBER 9th 1757. THE PRINCE OF CONDE ' WAS APPOINTED COLONEL OF FRENCH INFANTRY BY LOUIS XVI , BUT AFTER TAKING OF BASTILLE HE WAS DECLARED TRAITOR OF FRANCE . HE ESCAPED ABROAD, WHERE HE CREATED AN " ARMY OF FRENCH EMIGRANTS " . SO, THE THREE MEN WERE CLOSELY TIED TOGETHER IN THE HEART AND IN THOUGHTS OF MONARCHIST NOBILITY , SEEN AS THE ONLY POSSIBLE PLAYERS OF THE RESTORATION . IVORY STICKS. ABOUT 1793/94. CM. 26. MAX. WIDTH CM. 45. STICKS 21+2 |