Tennants Auctioneers
Lot 404
An Unusual Mid-19th Century Chinese Ivory Mandarin Fan, Qing Dyansty, the sticks being relatively plain, being carved only on the upper section of each guard, and in a central oval on the gorge. The carving on the guards, deeper than that in the central oval, depicts three figures under the shade of a tree. The gorge oval is carved with trees, figures and buildings. The leaf depicts various figures of different social levels, two young men push an older figure in a wheeled carriage, another man walking ahead carrying possessions. Buildings are painted blue and many of the applied silk robes are of a sombre deep plum. Children, to the left, appear to be either playing a game or musical instruments. All figures have applied painted ivory faces. The verso, in bright cerise, shows an unusual grouping, with two figures inside a ceremonial dragon, four musicians with instruments, and four other figures one carrying a fan, another a tall pole supporting a fish, another with a similar pole bearing an oversized flower. The surrounding border is elaborate, and small scale, with vignettes of blooms, fruit and colourful birds. Shaped gold metal loop with silk tassel. Together with a fitted lacquer fan box with domed lid and unusual painting, the lining of blue silk, painted inside the lid with bats, fish, and flowersMonture sound but requires cleaning. The leaf is grubby, noticeable on the cream side, slight rubbing to the leaf folds. Some very small chips to the lacquer at the front of the box. The clasp holds.
