Object of the Day: An Antique French Hand Fan

One of my favorites in my collection of antique hand fans is this beautiful silk, hand-painted fan with lace trim. Dating to the late Nineteenth Century, this fan is French in origin and has been signed by the artist, “Henri Luna.” The scene is typical of these fans—a courtly scene of well-dressed people at a fete, listening to musicians amidst the splendor of a well-manicured courtyard.

The celluloid sticks are intricately pierced and gilded, adorned with carved and painted roses which mirror the brightly painted flowers in the scene. The lace trim is in remarkable good condition given its age and is only slightly yellowed.

This fan was encased sometime in the 1930’s—mounted on rose-colored mohair. I always find fan cases to be delightful in and of themselves. I think it’s the shape of them that appeals to me. This one is particularly lovely with a relief of carved ribbons and roses at the crest.

You’ll have to pardon the glare in these pictures. This fan is hung about nine feet from the floor and I was standing on a chair (much to Bertie’s dismay) when I took the photos. Short of breaking my neck, there was no good way to block the reflection of the chandeliers.