Birds and Butterflies: A Mid-18th Century Ivory Fan, with slender sticks, the upper section of the guards wider and carved with a flower. The gorge is both painted and pierced, the piercing simple with leaves and curves, a shaped lozenge painted centrally edged in gold and containing tiny brown leaves and delicate blue flowers. Nearer to the head, the gorge sticks are painted in blues and pinks with an Oriental lady and child, a butterfly hovering over lilac and pink flowers. The double paper leaf is fresh and bright and highlighted in gold. An Oriental child wearing pink and blue approaches a man, a lantern hung from a pole over his shoulder, a bird perched on his outstretched hand. The man in similar dress with the addition of a shaped black hat and black shoes, proffers a flower basket containing pink flowers. Behind him on a small table is an exotic pot plant with large leaves and a blue pottery bowl. Above the figures hovers a bright blue bird, another perched on a branch of a tree to the left. The verso is plain save for a few pink flowers and green leaves. The découpage on the leaf is highly detailed and covers the top border, both sides and provides some central detail. The designs are so intricate as to resemble high quality needle lace with various complex fillings, including pomegranates and leaves as well as lattice and scrolling. Guard length 28cm