Fan

The famous Parisian firm of Duvelleroy probably made this fan. Jean-Pierre Duvelleroy established the fan-making business in 1827, and by 1887 it had two shops in Paris and one in London. The decoration on the fan leaf brings together two styles. The fan painter has included elements of the popular Rococo style of the 19th century and the romantic style of the 18th century.

The main charm of this fan is the way the image on the front is seen from behind on the reverse. A young woman talks to her lover over a fence while her father looks on. On the reverse, the lover reaches up to talk to his sweetheart. The rounded shape of the fan leaf and green tinting of the mother-of-pearl are typical of the period 1895 to 1905.