Folding Fan with Representation of a Royal Fireworks Display

Unknown

1781 · Ivory, paper · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The spectacular firework display painted so finely on this fan perhaps commemorates the birth of the new Dauphin, Marie Antoinette's son Louis Joseph on October 22nd, 1781, alluded to by the French royal arms to the right and the dolphins in the center. In Paris at this period, fan-making was shared between two distinct guilds: the spectacular ivory guards, carved and embellished with mother-of-pearl and gilding, were conventionally the domain of male artisans, whilst the delicately painted leaves were created by women artists. In a triumph of collaborative design, the two elements match beautifully in this example.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1781

Medium

Ivory, paper

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Henry J. Bernheim, 1959