This is a lovely French two-sided paper leafed hand fan with hand-colored lithograph showing visiting couples in a garden on the front. The bones sticks and guards are shaped, carved, pierced and gilt. Century Europe
The 18th century saw the first golden age of the fan in Europe. During this period they gradually went from being solely owned by the very rich and fashionable to being an essential fashion accessory for virtually all classes. For the first time printed fans started being made en-masse for those unable to afford the luxury painted and jewelled fans of the aristocracy and court. Fans were used on an everyday basis by all classes as an indispensable accessory. Many of surviving fans were wedding gifts to the bride and kept safe by the bride. These fans usually depict scenes of love, either famous historical weddings in the Baroque period, or arbour scenes with sacrifices to Hymen, the god of love, in the Rococo period.