Fan

Fans often commemorated the death of someone famous. This fan marks the death of Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of George II) in 1751. The image of Britannia with her shield, spear and lion is typical of this type of fan. On the left is a weeping allegorical figure carrying a shield with the Hanoverian horse emblem, representing the Royal Family. Like most mourning fans of this period, it is painted in grisaille (grey wash) and silver, with a border of black gouache. The sticks of carved ivory are appropriately simple and subdued in decoration.