Antique Chinese Fan with Thousand Faces. Silver Gilded Rods and Enamels. S. XIX

Fine antique Chinese one-thousand-faces fan with double leaf and gold-plated sticks and enamels, made in the 19th century and in really good condition. The silver sticks show a nice wavy shape; they are finely preserved and show no traces of wear. They are composed of delicate filigree pieces adorned with blue and green enamels depicting vegetal motifs (plants with flowers), in good condition. The guards are made of gold-plated silver; they are decorated with silver embossed details, one of them depicting a Chinese dragon. The leaf is painted by hand with a multicolored scene, depicting different scenes and characters. We can see gardens, indoor spaces and a boat with passengers too. The tiny figures wear traditional outfits, with rich colorful clothes. The faces are painted by hand on small natural material plates, a detail which gives its name to these particular fans (also known as Mandarin fans or Canton fans). At the bottom there is a secondary leaf with two hand-painted realistic birds flanked by big-sized flowers. The folding marks of both leaves are normal, due to the trace of time, and cannot be considered a flaw. The fan preserves the silk tassel, a gorgeous and colorful detail. Delicate and attractive, this antique Chinese one-thousand-faces fan with gold-plated sticks and enamels is a charming and unique piece. Dimensions: Sticks Length: 8.66 in / 22 cm. Width (Unfolded): 16.54 in / 42 cm.