Brisé fan with three painted reserves

Unknown

late 18th century · Pierced, painted and gilded ivory; jasperware; enameled metal; glass · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Composed only of sticks of ivory- a type of fan called "brisé"- this example holds our attention because of its blend of color, texture and different materials. The fine decoration of the ivory creates a lace-like effect; imitating pricier Chinese imports (like The Met's 65.80.13), its drilled technique reveals that this was made in Britain. Three painted medallions, representing the Roman goddesses Venus and Ceres flanking a central lady and children in a landscape, all imitate the popular style of Swiss painter Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807). Variety is cleverly achieved by inlays of enamel studs and gilding. On the outer sticks are two tiny blue and white jasperware plaques, representing Hope and Hercules; these were perhaps sourced from the famous and successful English porcelain manufactory founded some decades earlier by Josiah Wedgwood.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 18th century

Medium

Pierced, painted and gilded ivory; jasperware; enameled metal; glass

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, 1965