A ROYAL FAN

PIERCED IVORY BRISE' FAN, VERNIS MARTIN TYPE, OF PROBABLY VENETIAN MANUFACTURE (SEE "PAGES D'ART" - 1924). IN THE MIDDLE AN HAND-PAINTED COMMERCIAL SCENE WITH TWO ORIENTAL PERSONAGES ON THE LEFT AND FOUR ON THE RIGHT, WHO EXCHANGE MONEY AND CREDIT LETTERS. IN THE REST OF THE FAN THE DECORATION IS VERY COMPLEX, CONSISTING OF VARIOUS DIMENSION MEDAILLONS WITH CHINOISERIES AND A BIG PROFUSION OF RELIEF DECORATIONS WITH GOLD AND ENAMELS. ON VERSO THE SAME PAINTING IS REPLIED, BUT IN PALE AZURE AND PINK, TO BE LOOKED IN TRANSPARENCE. AGAINST THE LIGHT, THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FACES AND THE ARMS IS IMPRESSIVE (SEE ONE OF THE DETAILS OF THE PHOTOS). THE GUARD STICKS ARE SCULPTED IN LOW RELIEF (TO BE NOTED THE DAME WHO PLAYS THE LUTE WITH A HAIR-DRESS A' LA FONTANGE). PAPIER-MACHE' ORIGINAL CASE. THE LABEL, PERHAPS OF THE END OF XVIII CENTURY, SAYS THAT THE FAN WAS GIVEN BY QUEEN ANNE TO MRS. SPREADE, GREAT-GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF THE POSSESSOR FREDERICK MOCKLER. ANNE, BORN IN 1665 AT LONDON, WAS THE LAST SOVEREIGN OF STUART FAMILY, QUEEN OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND FROM 1702 TO 1707. THEN OF GREAT BRITAIN FROM 1707 TO 1714, WHEN SHE DIED. AN OTHER SMALL HAND-WRITTEN LABEL ON THE CASE SAYS THAT THE FAN WAS SOLD TO THE W.H.STEPHEN'S SALE ON MAY 8th, 1902. SO WE CAN DESUME THAT THE FAN IS ABOUT OF 1705, HOWEVER IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE BEFORE (1690 CA.) AND AFTER GIVEN AS A PRESENT. AMONG THE NOBLES IT'S STILL CUSTOM TO GIFT THEIR OWN OLD OBJECTS, OR OF THEIR OWN FAMILY, IN SPECIAL OCCASIONS, AS ESTEEM AND AFFECTION DEMONSTRATION. THE FAN IS ALSO CERTIFIED BY "HAMPTON & LITTLEWOOD AUCTIONNEERS AND VALUERS". CM 21,5. MAX SPREAD CM. 34. STICKS 30+2.