Victorian (??) FAN questions

amandainvermont

amandainvermont

VFG Member
OK - Perhaps Jonathan will see this? Or another person with knowledge I don't have? ... I posted this on the VCA board too, to cover all bases.

All I know about these three fans is that my mother bought them in Paris in the 50’s. I’m assuming they are Victorian. I don’t know what the material is for the ... spokes ? LOL...Bone - ivory? The first one is hand painted on paper... adorable scene probably with some meaning. Spot issues on the fan and a few breaks make me wonder if it is worth anything in that condition. (All the fans have “issues “)

<img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/onefanpost.jpg"> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/onefanpostt.jpg"> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/onefanpostspok.jpg">

This next fan is kind of a silk with various gold sequins and hand painted embellishments.

<img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/twopost.jpg"> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/twopost2.jpg"> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/twopost3.jpg">

And fan number three is very sweet, but again - lots of damage to the .... spokes!

<img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/postdam.jpg"> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/dam2post.jpg"> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/dam3post.jpg"> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/dam44.jpg">

I'm hoping that despite the damage they have some worth - perhaps framed? Thanks for any help you can give me ---> Amanda
 
I would definitely think this would look great framed! It is very pretty.

What I *do not* know, as I am not a fan expert, is that if there is a lot of things out there that people sell in "great to frame" condition so it still has to be of a certain motif or condition to be worth some money and the ratio of ones out there that are fully functional. I would imagine there are more, as they are often delicate, that are imperfect than perfect.
 
Another not knowledgable fan person - just to say I personally would happily frame them, and imagine they must still be desirable to a certain extent as they are as they are just lovely - I particularly like the swags and tails design (#2)! :)
 
The first one appears to have Ivory sticks and guards with incised carving and gilt highlights (careful - there are a lot of restrictions on selling ivory) with a handpainted Neo classical scene on a paper leaf. Without handling it, I can't say if it's an early 19th C. period piece or was painted later as a 'period' scene. I am sure an expert could determine that from photos, just not me. You can certainly call it 19th Century.

The second - looks like a cutwork silk leaf with sequins and celluloid?? sticks and guards . The sticks are a puzzle - uusally this type of leaf has ivory sticks but ivory doesn't usually yellow that much. This one is late 19th, early 20th Century. And they don't look like wood.

The third- ivory sticks with carving and gilt, a lined chiffon?? leaf, handpainted with sequins. I think this is a fontage shape, which would place it in the Edwardian era.

It looks like the sticks themselves are not broken, but are detached from the then wood spokes that go up into the leaf of the fan. If so, this is not a major problem.

Just be sure to disclose any actual breaks to the sticks or guard sticks and splits to the fabric. Don't try to repair anything - it's difficult and better to let a pro do it.

Do show a photo of the back of the fans, as well. Collectors will want to see that.

They are all very attractive and should get interest.
Hollis
 
Thank you everyone! Hollis - the sticks on the last fan are badly broken and some missing. I will definitely show all the defects ... I tend to go overboard in that area. Is there a problem listing something with ivory if it's more than 100 years old?
 
I assume the policy is the same on ebay.com -when I looked on ebay UK this is what it said:

Ivory

All trade in ivory is strictly controlled. Items made from or containing ivory may only be listed under one of the following two conditions:

The seller has documentary proof that the item is older than 1st June 1947, the proof is included in the listing, and the item is in a significantly worked form; or

The item is accompanied by an Article 10 certificate as issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), or the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and such certificate is included in the listing.

... So I'm not sure exactly how you would go about wording the listing, maybe someone else will have more of an idea.
 
Hmmm. documentary proof eh? Well I'll quote one of the eBay fashion experts. Thank you Harriet. Meanwhile I found something interesting on the first fan - a number indicating...??? <p> <img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/nicefansigpost.jpg"> <p> and here's the whole scene --<p>
<img src="http://www.pivot.net/~palmandan/nicefanpost.jpg">
 
The squiggly writing directly above the number appears to be a signature. Perhaps, the B stand for Batch No.??? The scene looks Napoleanic.

Both fans are lovely.

Deborah
 
I checked on ebay.com for the ivory rules, and looks like it's different over there:

Ivory: This area is complex, and sellers should consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceand their state wildlife regulatory agency to ensure that the particular item involved may lawfully be sold. Generally, ivory from African elephants may be sold within the United States as long as it was lawfully imported into the United States. Wooly mammoth ivory may be sold inside or outside the United States. Hippo ivory may be sold within the United States, but may not lawfully be imported into the United States, but may only be imported/exported in compliance with CITES.

So maybe you could just go for Woolly mammoth! :) seriously though, sorry to give out wrong info - looks like it should be less of an issue.
 
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