Telemachus on the Island of Calypso: A Mid to Late 18th Century Ivory Fan, with a highly extravagant and heavy monture. The wide sticks are carved and pierced, silvered and gilded with intricate shapes and complex design. The central cartouche, bordered in gold, shows a couple together with a winged cherub. To each side, a soldier in armour. All figures are carved in large scale and are surrounded by carved and gilded flowers, decorated ovals, and large scrolls over several sticks, forming hearts. The lower sections of the guards have the symbol of the Sun King. The double paper leaf is painted with the arrival of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope, on Calypso's island, Ogygia. Telemachus was seeking to find his father who had yet to return home from the Trojan War. See Homer's "Odessy". Calypso was a nymph who had detained Odysseus on her island for seven years, seeking to make him her husband. Telemachus had been guided in his search by the goddess Athena who had disguised herself as the old man Mentor. Here Calypso and her nymphs are shown as three young ladies. The ships are berthed behind. Other vignettes show a water nymph with her stone container, a warrior, perhaps Telemachus again (?), and two couples wearing 18th century dress, in pastoral scenes. The verso is more crudely painted with a landscape in dark colours, and a young couple in 18th century dress, the gentleman playing the flute. The gorge sticks are undecorated. Blue stone to the rivet.