Featured Fans!

I’ve stepped well outside my area with these fans. They were at a car boot sale, stacked at the back at the end of the morning, I was just meandering around and saw the cream one , idly picked it up and realised it was probably ivory, looked at the other and thought possibly tortoiseshell.
A pound each…..
Yes, I know worthless but I’d rather they were worthless with me than in a skip! Anyway, I digress.
The dark one is 12” black lace and I presume Tortoiseshell on white silk with a black silk backing. Lightly stitched to the shadow box so hopefully undamaged.
The other,11”, which surely has to be ivory is amazingly intricate but has some damage and horrifyingly looks to have been glued or double sided taped to the backing. First question is the usual, age, origin and method and secondly conservation? Are they best left as they are in the shadow box frames or will they deteriorate further? Black one has no glass, apologies for shadows on ivory one. I need a plan!
Any advice welcome please. @Any Jewelry

 

Fan tastic.

 

Great finds K, gorgeous!
The first one is 1890s Chantilly lace, and very likely tortoiseshell. This is you chance to use that UV light again!

The second one is Chinese, and looks like ivory. I'll wait with the date until I know your reply re size.

Are those the entire width, when open? Or the length of one guard (endpiece)?

(Would you like to see my credentials?)

 

When people say they spat their coffee out, I literally just did
Thanks for the giggle I needed that
Off to measure……..

 

Black one - each endpiece 11” long as remeasured more carefully so 22” across the base fully extended, it’s huge!
Cream one- each endpiece 10.5” and then 17.5” at its widest point fanned out as its displayed.

 

Yes, that is one of the indications that it is towards the end of the 19th century. As skirts got more slim, fans became huge, and close to a semi-circle when open.
Around 1900 some fans were even more than a semi-circle.

That one is mid 19th century imo.

 

Anything to oblige, K.

 

Incredible find! Concur for tortoiseshell and ivory
The ivory one is glued on the support because the ribbon which held the branches together is no longer there
You could remove it cautiously and make a camouflage with cut out thick cream paper where there are lacks and hold it again on a colored background with this:
UHU Pastilles adhésives Patafix détachable Transparent Etui de 56 https://amzn.eu/d/2l8ID4e

 

This conversation is worthy of Dick Emery.

aj, that black one looks very Spanish to my eye. The ivory one is astonishing.

 

They certainly don't look worthless to me!

 

It is too delicate for a Spanish fan. Spanish regional dress used either heavy or colourful fabics, and city dress was also more pronounced than in the rest of Europe. With such dress styles they needed stronger fans, both in the type of fabric and in the look.

The black fan is a classic French Chantilly fan. Beautifully delicate gauze-like lace combined with tortoiseshell.

 

The Chantilly lace fan is a real winner, but the other is a good one too.

 

Given the fineness of the cutting, the damage to the ivory is pretty much to be expected. I can't help but think it would be a fun thing to restore.

 

Are you keeping them for yourself? If not, I would sell them as they are.

If you are keeping them, there are a few things to consider, especially for the Chantilly one. No humidity, and no direct sunlight. Black Chantilly lace is coloured with iron oxide, which is why humidity is a no no.

It is fine to keep it unfolded, the way it is now. When it has been on display, it is often difficult to find the original folds, so best not to bother if you're not used to lace fans. Besides, it is beautiful, so why not show it.
It does need glass, obviously.

 

If you fel up to re-ribboning the Chinese one, it isn't difficult to do. Ask me how to do it, if you'd like yet another project.
The difficult thing is finding the right ribbon. Most ribbons nowadays are too thick, especially along the edges. I believe there are specialist sellers in the UK who stock antique or old style flat ribbon.

 

It could be coincidence, but I wonder if these motifs might be bats:


A common motif in Chinese decorations and, if a coincidence, a happy one.

 

It is a coincidence, the bat-like shapes are the cutout bits of two scrolls against each other. The ivory that is left forms stylized cloud scrolls, which it is intended to do.
But the unintentional bats can be seen as auspicious.

 

So the cloud scrolls would be similar to the cloud scrolls in their cloisonne. So i looked up Chinese clouds in Wikipedia. Even the number of clouds has significance. Rather interesting. AJ you are a marvel.
Xiangyun (Auspicious clouds).

 

Worth something to keep, but sell?