Mother-of-Pearl Folding Fan with Painted Paper Leaf

Victorian Late / Bustle · 1880s · French

An elaborate folding fan with intricately carved mother-of-pearl sticks and guards featuring pierced decorative work. The paper leaf displays a detailed painted scene with multiple figures in 18th-century dress arranged in what appears to be a romantic or mythological narrative. The painting shows soft pastel tones with careful attention to facial expressions and period costume details. The fan's construction demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship typical of luxury accessories during the Victorian era, when fans were essential elements of formal feminine dress and social communication.