ART OF THE FAN: RARE ROCOCO FANS, OSTRICH FEATHERS, LACE GOLD & IVORY.
Can you think of a more deliciously decadent gesture than drawing out an ornate Gothic Rococo fan… and whipping it in the face of your rival? Count D has a stellar idea for customizing and graffiti-styling Victorian pocket-fans “for damsels at risk of fainting”. While in NYC, we hunted down blank “templates” at Pearl River Mart, the Asian knick-knack kitsch palace. (Have you ever been? It’s a must-visit for DIY inspiration.)
I found a gorgeous book, Unfolding Beauty: Art of the Fan, in the arts reference section of the Vancouver Library. I took some snapshots to inspire him and set your heart a-flutter!
The fan on the left depicts the christening of Napoleon III’s son (in 1856). Read the description out loud; the words roll off the tongue: “Feather-shaped blades of white moire silk, lithographed and overpainted in gouache with touches of gilt and topped with marabou feathers…” On the right, a rustic scene from the 1750s: a lady in a pink, flowing robe volante greets a traveling salesman, who presents frivolities such as fans, ribbon, and makeup.
This haunting fan (from the 1740s) consists of four vignettes enclosed by Rococo frames, which surround a central ovoid mask with eyeholes. The second scene delights me: a woman chases her husband with cat-o’-nine tails while a monkey plays a love song on his viola!
Ostrich plume fans have been a traditional royal accessory from King Tut to Princess Diana. (My friend the Countess of Beaumont has several in her dressing room.) The Luna Moth’s delicate green wings are reproduced in this 1890 fan, which sparkles with gold mesh and gilt-silver thread.
The decorative possibilities are endless: miniature paintings of Rococo past-times, accents of silk and lace… I love the bold curve of the swan’s neck; the scalloped edge creates the effect of feathers, and the silver sequins suggest the ripple of water.
Soon, I’ll be fanning myself with something equally gorgeous – Count D is making me a Gothic Lolita “Black Widow Spider” fan. If it’s anything like the t-shirt he painted for my birthday, I’ll fall to the floor in a dead swoon!
This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 10:50 am and is filed under Art + Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
