A Circa 1870's Russian Fan, Samuel Arnd, St. Petersburg, (hallmarked), the monture having solid gold guards and loop with simple edgings, 56 standard, and set with a ruby on either side of the rivet**. The gorge is formed of intricately carved and gilded mother-of-pearl, which is further decorated on alternate sticks with vertical ovals painted with cherubs indulging in leisure activities, a phoenix rising from the flames, and depictions of gardens and flowers. The double paper leaf shows the vibrant activity of a costume ball, with ladies in extravagant gowns, their partners in formal attire, mixing with others in costume and masks, appearing as Harlequin or Pierrot, or in more grotesque garb, as in the Comedia d'Ell Arte.
The verso is painted with the aftermath of the ball, guests having perhaps partaken to excess, and tumbling down a stone staircase. Signed D H Ballue.
Guard length 11.75 inches or 30cm.
Contained in a fabric covered card fan box of high quality, the design in pastels on cream, with flowers and quite abstract designs in purple, green, salmon pink and black. Lined in cream silk and labelled in gold inside the lid for Duvelleroy in Paris.

Provenance: Sotheby's, Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons, 8 June 2011, lot 525
CSK, 17th September 1996, lot 55

D Ballue was a French painter and costume designer. Samuel Arnd was active in St. Petersburg 1845 to 1890.

**Please see the online images of the hallmarks

Samuel Arnd: A St. Petersburg firm that may owe its name to Johann Hellwing Arnd, a goldsmith who moved there from Germany in 1832 and that worked for the Imperial Court. Dmitri Ivanovich Osipov was a joint owner of the firm from 1890-1900. Osipov then appears to have owned the company outright until 1902, when he sold out to A. K. (Andrei Karlovich) Adler. In 1910, the Arnd company was trading from 12 Nevski prospeckt and was owned by Karl Ivanovich Bok. The company specialized in medals and military and court decorations and supplied Fabergé