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| Marriage Fan England with sticks and Guards from the Netherlands, 1760 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
The vellum leaf of this hand-painted fan depicts the signing of a marriage contract. The couple in question awkwardly holds hands in front of two lawyers--seated at a table with the marriage documents in front of them.
Such an occasion relied on witnesses. Here, we see a group of witnesses seated behind the bride and groom. They are chatting amongst themselves. Meanwhile, flagons of wine and barrels of ale are set up nearby, suggesting that the wedding feast is already being prepared. Even in the Eighteenth Century, a marriage between two people—especially those with wealthy and land—would not have taken place without first reaching some sort of legal agreement.
The lead of the fan was painted in England while the sticks and guards of pierced ivory and tortoiseshell (inlaid with gold) were imported from the Netherlands.
We can’t be sure if the couple depicted on the fan were based on a real people or if this is meant to represent the act. The fan, however, would have been given as an engagement or marriage gift. It was created between 1760 and 1770.
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