Historic Rococo fan featuring pastoral scenes.

Ivory, gouache on silk, sequins, metal trim. Length 27.0 cm, width max. (when open) approx. 50.5 cm. 68 g.

High-quality fan, probably circa 1770, with ivory ribs richly adorned with floral garlands, delicate openwork patterns, and rocailles—some colored and gilded—and a spine with a mother-of-pearl inlay. The silk fan panel is painted with three cartouches depicting scenes "à la bergère" (Eng.: pastoral scenes). The rectangular central cartouche depicts a couple in love against an idealized landscape: the fashionably dressed lady, who is offering her arm to the gentleman, wears a pink robe à la Polonaise style with a yellow skirt; the gentleman holds a shepherd’s crook adorned with ribbons in his left hand. The scenes in oval cartouches flanking the main motif each depict a girl and a boy in gallant poses. The three cartouches are surrounded by ornamentation typical of the period, featuring rich floral garlands, shepherd motifs, and symbols of love. The upper edge is decorated with a gold-colored metal trim; furthermore, the fan leaf is embroidered with sewn-on bronze-, silver-, and gold-colored sequins. On the reverse side is a preliminary sketch of the front, painted with three flowering branches in the areas where the cartouches are located. Signs of wear and age consistent with its age: the silk is discolored and stained, with a previous repair on one of the outer ribs. The silk fabric is brittle due to age and has deep tears in several places on both the front and back; however, the fan can be opened carefully. On the right inner side of the fan, the outer layer is peeling slightly; this can also be observed in several places on the inner silk layer. Some sequins are missing; these show overall signs of oxidation.

Expert report and EU trade authorization are available.