A beautiful example of an antique Italian Sorrento ware hand-held fan, combining delicate craftsmanship with charming decorative detail.
This elegant fan features a circular accordion style paper leaf, often referred to as a “cockade” fan, decorated with small painted images. The intricate folding design opens and closes gracefully by means of a pull thread / ribbon mechanism, making it both an interesting and functional example of antique ingenuity.
The carved olive wood handle reflects the traditional craftsmanship associated with Sorrento ware, renowned for its fine woodworking and decorative artistry. One side incorporates a centred oval mirror with decorative motifs and the hand written wording 'Ricardo, while the reverse is adorned with floral decoration.
Beautifully combining practicality with elegance, this piece would have originally served as both a fashionable accessory and a novelty item. Fans like this were often used for communications during social events too, the different fanning techniques and hand positioning indicated different things such as 'open to socialising', 'closed off' and more.
Today, it makes a wonderful collectible and display piece for admirers of antique fans, Italian decorative arts or Victorian and Edwardian accessories.
Dimensions: Length 26cm x Diameter of fan when open 26cm
Condition: In nice useable woking order.
Item No. 8886
