Fan — Bacchus and Ariadne, England, France, c. 1740
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1740
Fan in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 531-1869), made in England, France, dated c. 1740. The museum's brief description reads: Gouache on vellum with applied cut straw and mother of pearl, and ivory sticks, England, mid-18th century.
Museum description: Gouache on vellum with the subject of Bacchus and Ariadne. The top edge of the mount has a gold painted border. Amongst painted flowers at either side of the leaf, additional decoration by cut dyed (green) and natural straw, and mother of pearl in shape of petals forming flowers. The back of the mount display chinoiserie scene of painted sprigs of cherry blossoms, colourful flowers and a black and red bird perching on one of the branches.
The ivory sticks are richly carved and pierced showing classical motifs, and musical instruments on the guards. The museum records it as Gouache on vellum, with applied cut rye straw and mother-of-pearl (probably Haliotis varia), and carved ivory sticks (Loxodonta sp.) Caroline Cartwright, Senior Scientist, Department of Scientific…, measuring Length 274 mm; Width 516 mm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
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.
Historical context
This fan would have been a luxury item. The leaf is made of vellum, a type of specially prepared animal skin. It has been hand-painted very skilfully in subdued colours with the myth of Bacchus and Ariadne. The maker has applied additional decoration of cut straw and mother-of-pearl. These would have caught the light and make the fan glitter as the owner waved it to and fro.The ivory sticks are richly carved and pierced. The person who made this fan in the mid-1700s could have been French or English. Both the fan leaf and the sticks are of the highest quality, so it would have been a very expensive piece.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- ivory, printing ink
- Dimensions
- Length 274 mm; Width 516 mm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Gouache on vellum, with applied cut rye straw and mother-of-pearl (probably Haliotis varia), and carved ivory sticks (Loxodonta sp.) Caroline Cartwright, Senior Scientist, Department of Scientific Research, identified the mother-of-pearl as probably Haliotis varia (2019).
- Place recorded
- England, France
Identification
- Museum object name
- Fan
- Museum object number
- 531-1869
- Museum system number
- O69755
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, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.