Antiques & Uncommon Treasure Antique French Hand Painted Vernis Martin 16cm Brisé Hand Fan, Romantic Era c.1700s Manner, c.1895-1905 #3
The third of 3 from my own collections, listing today. Elegant in a decorative manner of the 1700s, Marie-Antoinette's favorite if historians are to be believed, the layered oil painting and varnish first created by the Brothers Martin. The process is simply referred to ever afterward as "Vernis Martin". You can see why M-A loved it. Sumptuous, all-over decorative paintings on both sides, usually in the French Romanticist manner of artists like Boucher, Fragonard - outdoor love and courtship scenes. The fans are ivory and I've owned these for a decade or more waiting to find someone who could re-ribbon them for me. As you can see, I found her. I'm so pleased with the result. Fine silk ribbon used, hand painted as would have been the old original. Museum quality, the little brisé is just 16cm long when folded. Truly a work of art, both sides. Very good to excellent condition throughout on this old beauty. One tiny restoration and professional repainting on the gentleman's leg - I can'