A Royal Crown

Fan with carved and pierced mother of pearl sticks and guards decorated with nymphs, putti and a crowned monogram.

The double canepin leaf is painted on the recto with nymphs and putti amongst clouds; signed and dated J. Calamatta, 1870.

Verso signed Alexandre.

Alexandre, Félix (French, born 1823)
Designer and painter who rose to fame during the 1850s to become fan-maker to Empress Eugenie, the Queen of the Netherlands and Queen Victoria.

Calamatta, Jeanne or Joséphine (Italian, dates unknown)
Jeanne was the daughter of Luigi Calamatta (1802 – 1869) an Italian engraver and painter who worked in Paris from 1822 to 1837. His wife, Joséphine Calamatta was also an artist (active Mid-Nineteenth Century) who was known to have executed a portrait of her father.