Brisé fan with three painted reserves

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.