A JEWELLED THREE-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL FAN
A JEWELLED THREE-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL FAN
A JEWELLED THREE-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL FAN
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Prospective purchasers are advised that several co… Read more PROPERTY OF A SWISS COLLECTOR
A JEWELLED THREE-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL FAN

MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 5365

Details
A JEWELLED THREE-COLOUR GOLD-MOUNTED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL FAN
MARKED FABERGÉ, WITH THE WORKMASTER'S MARK OF MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST PETERSBURG, 1899-1903, SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 5365
The mother-of-pearl sticks applied with with gold openwork scène galante within a landscape and scrolling rocaille, the guards enamelled in oyster over a wavy guilloché ground, with diamond and ruby-set flower-heads, a gold and diamond-set suspension loop, the parchment fan leaf hand-painted in watercolour heightened with white depicting a Watteauesque scene of young couples arriving at a forest in a boat, signed 'J. Donzel fils' on the left, marked on mount
13¾ in. (35 cm.) long
Special Notice
Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country. VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

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Aleksandra Babenko
Aleksandra Babenko

Lot Essay

The present jewelled fan exemplifies Fabergé's transformation of utilitarian objects into fashionable luxury items. At the turn of the twentieth century, fans were an essential element of the fashionable lady's wardrobe and opulently decorated pieces were requisite at court and for important balls. From the painted leaf, to the mother-of-pearl sticks and applied jewelled guards, up to eight craftsmen could be involved in the creation of a single fan. The use of pastoral scenes such as those on the present lot was particularly popular and complementary to Fabergé's designs.
The Paris Donzel family of painters consisted of a father, uncle and son, who specialised in painting fans with fête galante scenes in the second half of the nineteenth century. They worked for two of the leading French fan makers, Duvelleroy and Kees, who exported decorative leaves to Russia, where Fabergé jewelled the mounts. A related example of a fan painted by J. Donzel fils with Fabergé mounts was given by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich to the actress Madame Elisabeth Balletta and is now held in the McFerrin Collection (C. L. McCanless and A. Wintraecken, 'The Art of the Fan in the McFerrin Collection', From a Snowflake to an Iceberg: The McFerrin Collection, Houston, 2013, pp. 219-227).
Two further fans similarly painted by J. Donzel fils and dated circa 1890 are held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession numbers 63.90.99 and 1987.123.2.

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