18th-century French Rococo silk and whale ivory folding fan

This 18th-century French folding fan from the Rococo period is a fine example of luxury personal accessories of the era. The fan features a delicate silk leaf, which is meticulously embellished with elaborate embroidery, sparkling sequins, and applied gilding.

It is hand-painted with a central romantic vignette depicting two ladies and a kneeling gentleman dressed in period attire. The composition is further enhanced by decorative borders of scrolling vegetal and floral motifs, interspersed with depictions of musical instruments and sheets of musical scores. The supporting sticks are crafted from whale ivory and exhibit skillful hand-carving featuring ornate openwork and gilt decorative figures.

The fan is housed within a modern framed display case, which includes a suspension wire on the verso. The piece displays signs of historical use and restoration, including some tearing along the ribs, loss to the gilt finish on the sticks, and minor rubbing to the painted surface. It stands as a sophisticated representative of European courtly elegance and craftsmanship.