19th Century French Hand-Painted Silk Gauze Fan with Gilt Floral Sticks
19th Century French Hand-Painted Silk Gauze Fan with Gilt Floral Sticks
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An elegant late 19th-century French folding fan, composed of finely pierced and gilt-decorated ivory-toned sticks beneath a translucent silk gauze leaf painted with delicate flowering branches.
The fan is decorated across the leaf with sprays of white and pale lavender blossoms, soft green foliage, and slender flowering stems, all hand-painted directly onto the gauze. Tiny applied metallic sequins or spangles accent the centers of many of the blossoms and catch the light beautifully when the fan is opened.
The sticks and guards are ornamented with repeating gilt scrollwork and foliate motifs, creating a particularly pretty contrast against the creamy material. The outer guard carries a more elaborate gilt arabesque design. A metal suspension loop and original-style silk tassel complete the piece.
The combination of translucent painted gauze, delicate botanical decoration, gilt ornament, and sparkling spangles is highly characteristic of fashionable French fans of the Belle Époque period.
Era
Circa 1880–1900
Late Victorian / French Belle Époque period.
History
During the second half of the 19th century, the folding fan remained an important fashion accessory for formal dress throughout France and the rest of Europe. Paris in particular became one of the great centers of fan production, with specialist éventaillistes producing everything from modest painted fans to extraordinarily luxurious examples mounted with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, ivory, lace, silk, sequins, and hand-painted decoration.
By the 1880s and 1890s, delicate silk and gauze fans painted with naturalistic flowers became especially fashionable. Their translucent leaves allowed the decorative sticks to remain visible while giving the entire fan a light, ethereal appearance suited to evening dress.
Applied sequins or spangles were frequently added to floral compositions during this period to provide subtle sparkle under candlelight and gaslight.
Provenance
Sourced in France.
Likely French manufacture.
Materials
Hand-painted silk gauze leaf
Gilt decoration
Applied metallic sequins / spangles
Ivory-toned carved sticks and guards
Metal suspension loop
Silk tassel
Material Note
The sticks appear to be an animal-derived or imitation ivory-toned material, but the exact material cannot be confirmed from photographs alone. They may be bone, ivory, or another period substitute.
Because genuine antique ivory is subject to significant international and domestic trade restrictions, I would not list the sticks as ivory unless positively identified and legally documented.
Dimensions
Please provide the closed length and fully opened width and I can add them.
From scale, the fan appears to be approximately 10–11 inches long when closed and roughly 19–21 inches across when opened, but exact measurements should be used for the listing.
Condition
Good antique condition with wear consistent with age and use.
The silk gauze shows age-related discoloration, surface wear, small areas of staining, and some minor weakness or separation along portions of the lower edge near the sticks. The painted floral decoration remains vivid and highly decorative.
Some gilt decoration shows expected rubbing and wear. The tassel has visible fraying and age-related wear. The fan opens and displays well overall.
Please review photographs closely for condition.
Disclaimers
Antique and vintage items may exhibit minor imperfections, wear, repairs, patina, fading, staining, losses, and other signs of age consistent with their history. These characteristics are considered part of the charm and authenticity of the piece.
Any identification of materials is based upon visual examination unless otherwise stated.
An elegant late 19th-century French folding fan, composed of finely pierced and gilt-decorated ivory-toned sticks beneath a translucent silk gauze leaf painted with delicate flowering branches.
The fan is decorated across the leaf with sprays of white and pale lavender blossoms, soft green foliage, and slender flowering stems, all hand-painted directly onto the gauze. Tiny applied metallic sequins or spangles accent the centers of many of the blossoms and catch the light beautifully when the fan is opened.
The sticks and guards are ornamented with repeating gilt scrollwork and foliate motifs, creating a particularly pretty contrast against the creamy material. The outer guard carries a more elaborate gilt arabesque design. A metal suspension loop and original-style silk tassel complete the piece.
The combination of translucent painted gauze, delicate botanical decoration, gilt ornament, and sparkling spangles is highly characteristic of fashionable French fans of the Belle Époque period.
Era
Circa 1880–1900
Late Victorian / French Belle Époque period.
History
During the second half of the 19th century, the folding fan remained an important fashion accessory for formal dress throughout France and the rest of Europe. Paris in particular became one of the great centers of fan production, with specialist éventaillistes producing everything from modest painted fans to extraordinarily luxurious examples mounted with mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, ivory, lace, silk, sequins, and hand-painted decoration.
By the 1880s and 1890s, delicate silk and gauze fans painted with naturalistic flowers became especially fashionable. Their translucent leaves allowed the decorative sticks to remain visible while giving the entire fan a light, ethereal appearance suited to evening dress.
Applied sequins or spangles were frequently added to floral compositions during this period to provide subtle sparkle under candlelight and gaslight.
Provenance
Sourced in France.
Likely French manufacture.
Materials
Hand-painted silk gauze leaf
Gilt decoration
Applied metallic sequins / spangles
Ivory-toned carved sticks and guards
Metal suspension loop
Silk tassel
Material Note
The sticks appear to be an animal-derived or imitation ivory-toned material, but the exact material cannot be confirmed from photographs alone. They may be bone, ivory, or another period substitute.
Because genuine antique ivory is subject to significant international and domestic trade restrictions, I would not list the sticks as ivory unless positively identified and legally documented.
Dimensions
Please provide the closed length and fully opened width and I can add them.
From scale, the fan appears to be approximately 10–11 inches long when closed and roughly 19–21 inches across when opened, but exact measurements should be used for the listing.
Condition
Good antique condition with wear consistent with age and use.
The silk gauze shows age-related discoloration, surface wear, small areas of staining, and some minor weakness or separation along portions of the lower edge near the sticks. The painted floral decoration remains vivid and highly decorative.
Some gilt decoration shows expected rubbing and wear. The tassel has visible fraying and age-related wear. The fan opens and displays well overall.
Please review photographs closely for condition.
Disclaimers
Antique and vintage items may exhibit minor imperfections, wear, repairs, patina, fading, staining, losses, and other signs of age consistent with their history. These characteristics are considered part of the charm and authenticity of the piece.
Any identification of materials is based upon visual examination unless otherwise stated.