Brisé fan, ivory pierced work with central painted panel; probably made in France, 1775-1800
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1775-1800
Brisé fan made of ivory pierced work and a central painted panel depicting a music lesson. The sticks have gilded decoration and serrated tips, and are held together with silk ribbon.
Brisé fans have no fan leaf and are comprised of fan sticks held in place by a silk cord or ribbon. The sticks are often decorated by extremely intricate piercing and carving, creating an illusion of filigree work or lace. The sticks on this fan, with their serrated tips, display a strong Chinese influence. On this fan the maker has left an area of the central fan sticks solid to carry a painted vignette. The scene is a music lesson in a garden setting, and there is a suggestion of romance between the man playing and woman signing.
Fans were often associated with flirtation and scenes of pastoral dalliance were a popular subject for their decoration. This fan is further decorated with small painted medallions in imitation of blue jasper ware cameos.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Length 28 cm length of guard; Width 48 cm fully open; Depth 2.5 cm closed; Length 28 cm closed; Width 2 cm closed
- Materials and techniques
- Ivory pierced work, gilding and painting
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- France
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O126340
- Museum object number
- T.79-1956
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.