Description

A finely executed folding fan, the paper leaf elaborately painted and heightened with gold, reflecting the refined decorative taste of the Rococo period. The composition is centred by an oval pastoral scene depicting a seated young woman attended by three fashionably dressed youths within a garden setting. A classical monument and trees form the backdrop, lending the scene an air of polite leisure and courtly sociability. The figures are rendered with delicate brushwork and subtle colouration characteristic of contemporary miniature painting.
The central vignette is enclosed within an ornate cartouche composed of scrolling ribbon motifs and beaded ornament, surmounted by a bow. Flanking panels are symmetrically arranged and enriched with finely painted floral sprays, butterflies, birds, and decorative motifs dispersed across a warm-toned ground. Gilded highlights trace the ribs, borders, and key decorative elements, creating a luminous surface that would have animated the fan when opened and handled.
The leaf is mounted on a set of slender bone sticks, finely pierced and carved, each decorated with painted floral designs and metallic accents. The guards are similarly ornamented and shaped, framing the fan with elegance and balance. The pivot is secured with a metal rivet, allowing the fan to open and close smoothly.