The Fortune Teller: Dated 1857, A White Mother-of-Pearl Fan, the monture carved, pierced, and gilded in two shades of gold. The fairly wide guards each contain a piper, the central panel of the gorge is extravagantly carved and pierced, the very centre with two ladies listening to music, two further ladies to the sides, the background minutely carved as to represent the brides in guipure needle lace. The double paper leaf is painted with a young lady, accompanied by her suitor, consulting a fortune teller, who reads her palm and offers a tarot reading. The couple are accompanied by another, the lady attempting vainly to repel rather exuberant advances from her male companion. To each side are cherubs in oval vignettes, the one to the left inscribing the date of the 8th of December 1857. Signed with initials AS. On the verso two cherubs, perched on a cloud and surrounded by flowers, hold the flaming torch aloft over a pink plaque bearing the initials GMR. Signed minutely A. Solde.
Guard length 10.5 inches or 26.5cm